t 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2016 


https://archive.org/details/influenceofbluerOOplea 


Sketch  of  Gen.  A.  J.  Pleasonton’s  Grapery,  in  the  24th  Ward  of  the  City  of  Philadelphia,  displaying  the 

arrangement  of  the  Blue  and  Transparent  Glasses 


THE 


INFLUENCE 


OF  THE 


Blue  Eat  of  the  Sunlight 


AMD  OF  THE 


BLUE  COLOUR  OF  THE  SKY, 


IN  DEVELOPING  ANIMAL  AND  VEGETABLE  LIFE ; 

IN  ARRESTING  DISEASE,  AND  IN  RESTORING  HEALTH  IN  ACUTE  AND 
CHROJHC  DISORDERS  TO  HUMAN  AND  DOMESTIC  ANIMALS, 

AS  ILLUSTRATED  BY  THE  EXPEBI2IEMT3  OF 

GEN.  A.  J.  PLEASONTON,  AND  OTHERS. 

Between  the  years  i86i  and  i8j6. 


AJtefflJ  to  llie  Pladslsliia  Society  fir  ProMiii  AAiiciiltaie. 


“ Error  may  he  tolerated,  •what  reason  is  left  free  to  combat  it." — Thomas  yeffersott. 
“ If  this  theory  he  true,  it  upsets  all  other  theories." — Richmond  Whig. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

CT.AXTON,  KEMSEN  & HAFFELFINGER,  PUBLISHERS. 

- 1876. 


'1  -"  i.-  -v^^^.'i^'''-.-i '.j 


y 


'1 


fv 


Entered  accqrding  to  Act.  of  Congress  in  the  year  1876, 

_^By  gen.  AUGUSTUS  J.  PLEASONTON, 

In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington,  D.  C. 


P’l 


■? 


PREFACE. 


TTating  been  much  interested  in  the  phenomena  of  the  physics  of  the  earth, 
llio  aiit'iui.,  in  offering  to  liis  readers  a second  edition  of  his  work,  “Oh  the 
luriueiic6.  ,ee  the  Blue  Color  of  the  Sky  in  Developing  Animal  and  Vegetable 
Life,”  may  be  indulged  in  his  introduction  into  this  preface  of  some  views  that 
his  observations  have  led  him  to  entertain  relative  to  the  variations  .of  tempera- 
ture, and  changes  of  our  seasons,  wliich  are  in  harmony  with  the  subjects  treated 
by  him  in  this  work. 

The  first  edition  of  the  following  memoir  was  printed  for  distribution 
among  scientific  and  literary  institutions,  and  among  persons  of  culture,  for  the 
purpose  of  attracting  the  attention  of  those  for  whom  it  was  intended,  to  the 
subjects  of  which  it  treats.  It  was  hoped  that  its  publication  would  invite 
investigaiion  into  the  nature,  composition,  and  influences  of  those  great  forces 
which,  in  the  poverty  of  our  language,  we  call  imponderables,  that  is  to  say,  not 
to  be  w"cighed  in  the  balance,  and  consequently  never  to  be  found  wanting. 
This  expectation  is  likely  to  be  realized,  if  we  may  judge  from  the  general 
interest  that  appears  to  be  taken  in  the  memoir,  w'hich  has  been  manifested  in 
the.  numerous  apirlications  that  have  been  made  to  the  author,  from  various 
parts  of  our  country,  for  copies,  of  it.  The  edition  has  now  been  distributed, 
yet  .so  many  persons  who  liave  applied  for  copies  of  the  memoir  are  still  without 
it,  that  it  has  been  deemed  advisable  to  issue  another  edition. 

If,  by  a course  of  study,  and  observation  of  the  great  forces  of  nature,  as 
they  are  exliibited,  not  in  the  laboratory,  upon  the  minutest  scale,  but  in  those 
grand  operations  by  which  physical  changes  are  at  every  moment  developed 
before  our  eyes,  we  can  succeed  in  penetrating  the  mysteries  of  their  origin, 
of  their  evolution,  of  their  application,  and  of  their  reciprocal  conversions  into 
each  other,  we  shall  become  indeed  wise  in  our  generation,  and  mankind  in  the 
future  will  be  able  to  rejoice  in  a development  never  yet  reached  in  any  pre- 
ceding age. 


J>y  \vny  of  illustration  of  this  idea,  we  may  suggest  that  this  planet  is 
surrouudeii,  at  variable  altitudes  above  its  surface,  by  a canopy  of  cold,  increas- 
ing in  jhtensity  with  its  distance  above  the  earth.  'Kow,  w'e  may  ask,  what 
produces  the  changes  of  our  seasons?  We  answer,  simply  the  descent  or  ascent 
of  columns  of  tliis  canopy  of  cold  1 

It  has  been  observed,  for  any  years,  that  the  first  frost  of  the  autumn 
appears  in  Texas  or  Louisiana,  or  some  othef  of  the  Gulf  States,  while  at  :h.- 
same  time  no  frost  is  observable  in  other  localities  situated  much  farther  to  the 
north— the  commonly  supposed  place  of  departure  of  our  winters.  This  frost, 
therefore,  must  come  from  the  descent  of  the  cold  of  the  higher  atmosphere 
immediately  over  the  locality  where  it  prevails.  Following  the  valley  of  the 
Mississippi  and  those  of  its  tributaries,  frost  appears  successively  in  various 
idaces  along  those  routes,  till  it  reaches  the  vallies  of  the  Northern  Lakes, 
running  along  which  it  is  felt  in  Northern  New  York  and  the  NewJEngland 
States,  and  subsequently  in  the  Middle  and  Southern  Atlantic  States.  It  does, 
not  reach  the  vicinity  of  Philadelphia  until  some  fifteen  or  twenty  days  after 
it  has  shown  itself  on  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  Now  would  it  not  seem  that  the 
influences  producing  this  frost  are  telluric;  and  not  exclusively  solar,  as  hitlierto 
they  have  been  supposed  to  he  '* 

• V 

We  know  that  in  the  ocean  there  are  columns  of  fresh  water  which  differ  in 
temperature  from  the.  surrounding  sea  water,  and  with  which  they  do  not 
mingle  for  a long  time.  So  is  it  for  a himdred  or  more  miles  at  sea,  distant  from 
the  mouths  of  the  great  rivers  Amazon,  Orinoco,  Mississippi,  etc.,  whose  fresh 
waters  do  not  mix  w'ith  the  salt  waters  surrounding  them,  owing  to  the  difference 
of  their  densities.  In  like  manner  the  cold  air  of  the. tipper  atmosphere  descends 
in  columns  of  various  extent  over  particular  localities,  to  vary  the  temperature 
and  change  the  seasons,  on  the  surface  of  our  earth,  without  mixing  with  the 
warmer  and  more  expanded  air  beneath,  which  it  displaces. 

• The  spring  and  summer  seasons  arc  produced  by  increased  radiations  from 
tlie  interior  heat  of  the  earth,  forcing  upwards  the  dense  cold  of  winter,  whose 
particles  are  so  close  together  as  to  prevent  the  intrusion  among  them  of  tbe 
e^panded  warm  air  in  its  ascent.  ■ Much  of  the  heat  of  the  lower  atmospliere  is 
also  developcxl  in  the  conversion  of  vapor  into  clouds  by  condensation  from  cold. 

It  is  in  this  way  that  our  seasons  arc  changed.  Let  our  savans  discover 
how  and  why  tlicse  effects  are  produced.  Until  they  do,  it  may  be.  suggested 
that  they  arc  owing  to  electrical  atmospherical  disturbances  in  the  upper  atmos- 
phere, repelling  the  negative  electricity  of  those  regions,  and  forcing  the  cold 


iii 

air  to  the  surface  of  the  earth,  where  it  displaces  the  warnier  and  nrore  rarehed 
and  expanded  air,  and  condenses  in  rain,  snow  and  hail,  the  vapors  it  contains, 
driving  tlie  displaced  g amier  air  totlvo  tropics,  and  the  heat  from  the.  tropics 
attracted  to  the  cohdensed  vapor  in  the  clouds  in  the  temperate  zones  to  liquefy 
them  in  rain,  producing  winter.  ' :r 

Tn  the  opposite  manner  the  warm  seasons  of  spring  and  summer  are  pro- 
duced hy  the  positive  elcclricity  of  the  suxfaee-air  .of  the  earth  becoming  wai  .ued 
by  increased  radiation  of  heat  from  the  interior  of  the  earth,  repelling  itself, 
and  displacing  the  upper  strata  of  cold  ah,  till  by  induction  of  electricity  the 
temperature  of  the  season  is  established. 

• ■ f . . 

geologists  tell  us  that  in  the  early  existence  of  this  planet,  the  greater  part 
f)f  tlve  earth’s  surface  was  covered  with  ice,  and  that  this  period  of  time  is  Cidled 
the  G-lacial  Period. 

' Let  us  imagine  that  the  igneous  action,  of  the  elementary  substances  of  the 
interior  of  the  earth’s  ermst,  just  before  that  period,  might  have  been  so  iidense 
as  by  the  radiation  of  its  heat  to  the  surface  of  the  earth  to  rarefy  the  lower  _ 
atmosphere,  converting  into  vapor  the  water  it  contained,  and  forcing  it  upward 
till  the  whole  surface  of  the  eartH  was  almost  incandescent. 

To  restore' the  equilibrium,  the  canopy  of  cold  repelled  by  its  own  negative 
electricity  from  above,  whiclr  has  been  increased  by  the  currents  of  polar  elec- 
. trikty,  largely  dcyeldped  by  this  central  and  interior  igi^ous  action— and 
attracted  by  the  positive  electricity  in  the  heated  atmosphere  below— descended 
to  the  surface  of  the  earth,  condcsi.sing  the  vapors  of- the  atmosphere  into  rain, 
and  afterwards  into  hail  and  snow,  driving  the  remainder  of  the  warmer  air 
at  what  wo  call,  now,  the  temperate  zones,  to  the  tropics,'" and  covering  the' 
surfaces  of  the  earth,  from  the  poles  to  the  tropics,  with  a dense  mantle  of  ice, 
freezing  the  rivei-s,  hays,  iTnd  seas  of  those  latitudes.  -The  internal  central  fires 
"thus  eoncerdTated,  in  due  season  increased  their  radiation  of  heat,  and  melted 
the  .superjacent  ice,  whidx,  breaking  from- the' sides  of  glaciers  in  large  masses, 

- slid  aiid  rolled  to  the.  ocean,  there  becounng'lcshergs,  and  carrying- with  them 
'those  immense  boulders  ■which,  iorn  from  the  mountain  sides  by  the  adhesion 
• of  the  ice,  have  left  the  traces  of  their  furrows  on  the  slopes  of  the  mountains, 
and  have  marked  their  courses  till,  by  the  melting  of  the  bergs,  they  have 
been  dropped  in  the  ocean,  which  subsequently,  by  its  subsidence,  have  left 
them  dry  on  the  land.  If  such  was  the  cause  of  the  glacial  period,  it  would 
rc,quire  no  grout  stretch  of  fancy  to  coniprehcnd  tlie  deluge  of  Deucalion  or 
that  of  our  great  ancestor;  iN'oah,  wiien  tlie  rain  descended  for  forty  days ; 


occasioned  no  doubt  by  a lessCr  descent  of  the  canopy  of  cold  (limiting  its  . 
effect  to  the  condensation  of  five  vapors  of  the  atmosphere  into  rain)  than 
that  vvliich  produced  tire  glacial  lauioiL' 

If  such  effects  follow  from  ,sueh  causes,  wfe  need  not  be  at  a loss  to  account  • 
for  the  changes  of  our  seasons,  or  the  daily  variations  of  temperature  in  every 
locality. 

This  edition  of  our  memoir  has  been  printed  upon  tinted  paper  with  blue  ■ 
ink,  as  an  experiment,  in  an  attempt  to  relieve  the  eyes  of  the  reader  from  the. 
great  glare,  occasioned  by  the  reflection  of  gas  light  at  night  from  the  white 
paper  usually  employed  in ' the  juinting  of  hooks.  If  it  '.shall  succeed  we  may 
hope  to  see  the  tinted  paper  introiiuced  for  all  books  and  periodicals. 

rmLADELPHIA,  July  29,  1871.  " i. 


PREFACE  TO  THE  LAST  EDITION. 

r 


In  the  previous  editions  of  my  memoir  “ On  the  Influence  of  the  Blue  Colour 
of  the  Sky  in  Developing  Animal  and  Yegetahle  Life,”  an  erroneous,  imjjres- 
Sion  has  been  created  by  the  ambiguity  of  - the  language  Employed  in  describing 
the-  results  of  my  experiments  -with  light.  From  the  tints  reflected  from  the 
outside  of  the  coloured  glass,  upon  centain  localities  in  my  terraced  garden,  I 
fancied  that  the  glass  itself  -was  of  ayiolet  tint,  and  so  attributed  the  remarkable 
results  -within  the  grape^  to  violet  rays.  Upon  my  attention  having  been 
called  to  this  apparent  discrepancy,  I investigated  the  matter,  and  found  that  the 
glass  -was  of  a dark  mazarine  blue — o-sving  its  colour  to  a preparation  of  cobalt, 
\vhlch  had  been  fused -with  the  materials  composing  the  glass  during  its  manu- 
fueturo— and*  hat  the  reflection  of  the  violet  ray  on  the  outside  -was  due  to  the 
irregular  surface  of  the  glass  itself  upon  -which  the  light  of  the  firmament,  as 
well  as  of  the  sunlight  had  fallen,  and  had  been  thus  reflected.  Wliatever  effect 
may  he  produced  by  the  use  of  violet  coloured  glass  is  to  be  attributed  to.  the 
■ proportion  of  the  blue  ray  which  enters  into  the  composition  of  the  -violet  rays  of 
light,  and  not  to  those  composite  raj’s  themselves. 

This  edition,  begun  in  the  summer  of  the  year  1373,  has  been  prepared  at 
intervals  snatched  from  the  occupations  of  a busy  life,  which  will  account  for 
any  incoherences  that  may  appear  in  the  subject?  as  they  are  treated  herein. 


Tlie  following  memoir  was  read  by  Gen,  A.  J.  Pleasonton. 
before  tbe  Pbiladelpbia  Society  tor  Promoting  Agriculture,  on 
Wediiesday,  tbe  3d  of  May,  1871,  at  their  room,  S.  W.  corner 
ot  9th  and  "Walnut  Streets,  in  the  City  ot  Philadelphia,  upon 
the  following  recpiest  ; 

1309  Walnxtt  St.,  mii,  1871. 

Mk  Dear  General: 

Will  it  suit  you,  and  will  you  do  us  the  favor  to  explain  your 
process  of  using  glass  in  improving  stock  to  the'  Philadelphia  So- 
ciety for  Promoting  Agriculture,  on  Wednesday  next,  the  3d  of 
May,  at  eleven  o’clock,  A.M.,  at  their  Eoom,  S.  W.  corner  of  Ninth 
and  Walnut  Streets,  (entrance  on  Ninth  street)  ?■  You  were  kind 
enough  to  express  to  me.  in  conversation,  j'our  willingness  to  give 
u.s,  the  result  of  your  experiments. 

■ Yours,  very  truly, 

W.  H.  DEAYTON, 

President 

General  Pleasonton. 


Ifr.  President  and  Gentlemen  of  The  Philadelphia  Society  for 
Promoting  Agriculture. 

At  the  request  of  my  old  friend'and  yoiir  respected  Presi- 
dent, I have  attended  your  meeting  this  morning  to  impart  to 
you  tlie  results  of  certain  experiments  that  I have  mjide  within 
the  last  ten  years  in  attempts  to  utilize  the  blue  color  of  the 
sky  in  the  development  of  vegetable  and  animal  life. 

I may  prernise  that  for  a long  time  I have  thought  that  the 
blue  color  of  the  sky,  so  permane!-'  and  so  alKpervading-  and 
yet  so  varying  in  intensity  of  color,  according  to  season  and 
latitude,  must  have  some  abiding  relation  and  intimate  con- 
nection with  the  living  organisms  on  this  planet. 

Deeply  impressed  with  this  idea,  in  the  autumn  of  the  year 
1800, 1 commenced  the  erection  of  a cold  grapery  on  my  farm 
in  the  western  part  of  this  city.  I remembered  that  while  a 
student  of  chemistry  I was  taught  that  in  the  analysis  of  the 
ray  of  the  sun  by  the  prism,  in  the  year  1666,  by  Sir  Isaac  New- 
ton, he  had  resolved  it  into  the  seven  primary  rays,  viz : red, 
orange,  yellow,  green,  blue,  indigo  and  violet,  and  had  disco- 
vered that  these  elementary  rays  had  different  indices  of  refrac- 
tion ; that  for  the  red  ray  at  one  side  of  the  solar  spectrum  being 
the  least,  while  that  of  the  violet  at  the  opposite  side  thex'eof  was 
the  greatest,  from  which  he  deduced  his  celebrated  doctrine 
of  the  different  refrangibility  of  the  rays  of  light and  further,  that- 
Sir  John  Herschel  in  his  subsequent  investigation  of  the  pro- 
perties of  light  had  shown  that- the  cherin^l  power  of  the  solar 
ray  is  greatest  in  the  blue  rays,  which  give  the  least  light  of  any  of 
the  Imiinoiis  prismatic  radiations,  but  the  largest  quantity  of  so- 
lar heat,^  and  that  later  experiments  established  the  fact  of  the 
stimulating  influence  of  the  blue  rays  upon  vegetation.  Haviuo- 
- concluded  to  make  a practical  application  of"the  properties  of 
the  blue  and  violet  rays  of  light  just  refeiTed  to  in  stimulating  ve- 
getable life,  I began  to  inquire  in.every  accessible  direction  if 
this  stimulating  quality  of  the  blue  or  violet  ray  had  ever  re- 
ceived any  practical  useful  application.  My  inquiries  developed 
the  facts  that  various  experiments  had  been  made  in  England 
and  on  the  European  continent  with  glass  colored  with  eimh  of 


c 


the  several  primary  rays,  hut  that  they  wore  so  iinshiishietory 
ill  their  results  tliat  nothiiia;  useful  came  cf  Uiem  so  far  as  auy 
iin}ir()vemeiit  in  the  process  of  devehapiriy’ ve/rcia.iion  was  con- 
cerned. Finding  no  beaten  track,  I was  left  to  grop-'.  iny  way 
as  best  I ci)uld  under  the  guidance  of  the  violet  ras*  alone. 
My  grapery  was  finished  in  ]\Iarch,  1861.  Its  dimensions  were, 
84  feet  long,  26  feet  wide,  16  feet  higirat  the  ridge,  with  a dou- 
ble-pitc.heil  roof.  It  was  built  at  the  foot  of  a tet  raced  .garden,  in 
the  direction  of  H.  E.  1)y  E.  to  S.  W.  by  W.  On  three  sides  of  it 
there  was  a border  12  feet  wide, .and  on  the  fourth  or  N.  E.  by 
E,  side  the  border  was  only  five  feet  wide,  bcirig  a walk  of  the 
garden.  The  borders  inside  and  outside  were  excavaicd  3 feet 
6 inches  deep,  and  w'oro  fillcfl  up  with  the  usual  nutritive  jnat- 
tcr,  carefully'proparcd  for  growing  vines.  I do  not  think  they 
diffcrc(l  ossenliail}'-  from  thousand.^  of  other  borders  wbieh 
have  been  made  in  man.y  parts  of  the  world.  The  first  ques- , 
tion  to  be  solved  on  the  completion  of  the  frame  of  the 
grapery,  was  the  proportion  of  blue  or  violet  glass  to  he  used 
on  the  z’oof.  Shuuld  too  much  he  used,  it  would  reduce  the 
temperature 'too  much,  and  cause  a foilure  of  the  experiment; 
if  too  little,  it  would  not  afford  a fair  test.  At  a venture  I 
adopted  every  eighth  row  of  glas.s  on  the  roof  to  he  violet 
colored,  alternating  the  rows  oti  opposite  .sides  of  the  roof,  so 
that  the  sun  in  its  duilj'-  course  should  cast  a beam  of  violet 
light  on  every  leaf  in  the  grapeiy.  Cuttings  of  ^■inc8  of  some 
twenty  variciies  of  grapes,  each  one  year  old,  of  the  thickness 
of  a ])ipe-stem,  and  cut  close  to  the  pots  containing  them,  were 
planted  in  the  borders  inside  and  outside  of  the  grapery,  in. 
the.  early  part  of  April,  1801.  Soon  after  being  planted  thg 
growth  of-  the  vines  began.  Those  on  the  outside  were 
trained  through  earthen  pipes  in  the  walls  to  the  inside,,  and 
as  they  grew  they  were  tied  up  to  the  wires  like_  those  wliich 
had  been  planted  within.  A^ery  soon  the  vines  began  to  at- 
tract great  notice  of  all  who  saw  them,  from  the  rapid  growth 
they  Avere  making.  ' Every  day  disclosed  some  new  extension, 
and  the  gardener  was  kept  busy  in  tying  up  the  new  wood 
which  the  day  before  he  had  not  observed.  In  a few  Aveeks 
after  tbe  vines  had  been  planted,  the  walls  and  inside  of  the 
roof  were  closely  cov'ered  Avith  the  most  luxurious-and  healthy 
development  of  foliage  and  Avood. 

In  the  early  part  of  September,  1861,  Mr.  Eobert  Buist,  Sr., 
a noted  seedsman  and  distinguished  horticulturist  from  whom 
I had  procured,  the  vines,  haAung  heard  of  their  Avonderful 
growth,  visited  the  grapery.  * On  entering  it  he  seemed  to  be' 


t 


lost  in  amazement  at  "wliat  he  saw;  after  examining  it  very  care- 
fully? tiirning  to  me,  he  said,  “ General!  I have  been  cultivating 
plants  and  vines  of  various  kinds  for  the  last  forty  years;  I have 
seen  some  of  the  best  vineries  and  conservatories  in  England  and 
Scotland,  but  I have  never  seen  anything  like  this  growth.”’ 
He  then  measured  some  of  the  vines  and  found  them  forty- 
five  feet  in  length,  and  an  inch  in  diameter  at  the  distance  of 
one  foot  above  the  ground ; and  these  dimensions  were  the 
growth  of  only  five  months  I He  then . remarked,  “I  visited 
last  week  a new  grapery  near  Darby,  the  vines  in  which  I fur- 
nished at  the  same  time  I did-  yours ; they  were  of  the  same 
varieties,  of  like  age  and  size,  when  they  were  planted  as  yours ; 
they  were  planted  at  the  same  time  with  yours.  When  I saw 
them  last  week,  they  were  puny  spindling  plants  not  more 
than  five  feet  long,  and  scarcely  increased  in  diameter  since 
■ they  were  planted — and  yet  they  have  had  the  best  possible 
care  and  attendance ! ” 

The  vines  continued  healthy  and  to  grow,  making  an  abun- 
dance of  young  wood  during  the  remainder  of  the  season  of 
1861. 

In  March  of  1862  they  were  started  to  grow,  having  been 
pi'uned  and  cleaned  in  January  of  that  year.  The  growth  in 
this  second  season  was,  if  anything,  more  remarkable  than  it 
had  been  in  the  previous  year.  Besides  the  formation  of  new 
wood  and  the  display  of  the  most  luxuiriant  foliage,  there  was 
a wonderful  number  of  bunches  of  grapes,  which  soon  assumed 
the  most  remarkable  proportions — the  bunches  being  of  extra- 
ordinary magnitude,  and  the  grapes  of  unusual  siz"e  and  de- 
velopment. 

In  September  of  1862  the  same  gentleman  Mr,  EobertBuist, 
Sr,,  WHO  had  visited  the  grapery  the  year  before  came  again — 
this  time  accompa  nied  by  his  foreman.  The  grapes  were  then 
beginni  ng  to  color  and  to  ripen  rapidly.  On  entering  the  grapery, 
astonished  at  the  wonderful  display  of  foliage  and  fruit  which  it 
presented,  he  stood  for  a while  in  silent  amazement;  he  then 
slowly  walked  around  the  grapery  several  times,  critically  ex- 
amining its  wonders ; when  taking  from  his  pocket  paper  and 
pencil,  he  noted  on  the  paper  each  bunch  of  grapes,  and  esti- 
mated its  weight,  after  which  aggregating  the  whole,  he  came  to 
me  and  said,  “ General ! do  you  know  that  you  have  1200  pounds 
of  grapes  in  this  grapery  ?”  On  my  saying  that  I had  no  idea 
of  the  quantity  it  contained,  he  continued,  “ you  have  indeed 
that  weight  of  fruit,  but  I would  not  dare  to  publish  it,  for  no 


8 


one  ‘.voiild  believe  me.”  "We  well  conceive  of  bis  astnn- 
isbmont  at  this  product  wlicn  we  are  reminded  that  iii  grape- 
groving  countrio,s  where  grapes  have  been  grown  for  centu- 
ries. that  a period  of  time  of  from  tive  to  six  years  will  elapse 
‘before  a single  bunch  of  grapes  can  be  produced  from  a young 
vine — while  before  him  in  the  second  year  of  the  growth  of' 
wnes  wbich  he  himself  had  furnished  only  seventeen  mouths 
before,  he  saw  this  remarkable  yield  of  the  finest  and  clioicest 
varieties  of  grapes.  He  might  well  say  that  an  account  of  it 
would  be  incredible. 

During  the  next  season  (1863)  the  vines  again  fruited  and 
matured  a crop  of  grapes  estimated  by  compai'ison  with  the 
yield  of  the  previous  year  to  weigh  about  two  tons  ; the  vines 
were  yjerfectly  healthy  and  -free  from  the  usual  maladies  which 
affect  the  grape.  By  this  time  the  grapery  and  its  products 
had  become  partially  known  among  cultivators,  who  said  that 
such  excessive  crops  would  exhaust  the  vines,  and  that  the 
follovring  year  there  would  be  no  fruit,  as  it  was  well  known 
that  all  plants  required  I’est  after  yielding  large  crops ; notwith- 
standing, new  wood  was  formed  this  year  for  the  next  year’s 
crop,  which  turned  out  to  be  quite  as  large  as  it  had  been  in 
the  season  of  1863,  and  so  on  year  by  year  the  vines  have  con- 
tinued to  bear  large  ci'ops  of  fine  fruit  without  iutcriuission- 
for  the  last  nine  years.  They  are  now  healthy  and  strong, 
and  as  yet  show  no  signs  of  decrepitude  or  exhaustion; 

The  success  of  the  grapery  induced  me  to  make  an  experi- 
ment with  animal  life.  In  the  autumn  of  1869  I built  a pig- 
gery and  inti’oduced  into  the  roof  and  three  sides  of  it  violet- 
colored  and  white  glass  in  equal  proportions — half  of  each 
kind.  Separating  a recent  litter  of  Chester  county  pigs  into 
two  parties,  I placed  three  sows  and  one  barrow  pig  in  the 
ordinary  pen,  and  three  other  sows  and  one  other  barrow  pig 
in  the- pen  under  the  violet  glass.  The  pigs  w'ere  all  about 
two  months  old.  The  weight  of  the  pigs  was  as  follows,  viz  : 
Under  the  violet  glass,  No.  1 sow,  42  lbs..  No.  2,  a barrow  pig, 
45J  lbs,,  No,  3,  a sow,  38  lbs.,  No.  4,  a sow  42,  lbs.,  their  ag- 
gregate weight  167-J  lbs.  The  weight  of  the  others  in  the 
common  pen  was  as  follows,  viz No.  1,,  a sow,  60  lbs.,  No.  2, 
a sow,  48  lbs..  No.  3,  a barrow  big,  59  lbs..  No.  4,  a sow,  46 
lbs ; their  aggregate  weight  was  203  lbs. ' It  will  be  observed 
that  each  of  the  pigs  under  the  violet  glass  was  lighter  in 
weight  than  the  lightest  in  weight  pig  of  those  under  the  sun- 
light alone  in  the  common  pen.  The  two  sets  of  pigs  were 
treated  exactly  alike ; fed  with  the  same  kinds  of  food  at 


9 


eq^ual  intervals  of  time,  and  vritli  equal  quantities  by  measure 
at  each  meal,  and.  were  attended  by  the  same  man.  They 
were  put  in  the  pens  on  the  3d  day  of  November,  1869,  and 
kept  there  until  the  4th  day  of  March,  1870,  when  they  were 
weighed  again.  By  some  misconception  of  my  orders,  the 
separate  weight  of  each  pig  was  not  had.  The  aggregate 
weight  of  the  three  sows  under  the  violet  light  on  the  8d  of 
November,  1869,  was  122  lbs;  on  the  4th  of  March,  1870,  it 
was  520  lbs.,  increasc^98  lbs. 

The  aggregate  weight  of  the  three  sows  in  the  old  pens  , on 
the  3d  of  November,  1869,  was  144  lbs,,  and  on  the  4th  of 
March,  1870,  it  was  530  lbs.,  increase  386  lbs.,  or  12  lbs.  less 
than  those  under  the  violet  glass  had  gained. 

The  weight  of  thq  barrow  pig  in  the  common  pen  on  the 
3d  of  November,  1869,  was  59  lbs.,  and  on  the  4th  of  March, 
1870,  it  was  210  lbs.,  increase  151  lbs.  The  weight  of  the 
barrow  pig  under  the  violet  light,  on  the  3d  of  November, 
1869,  was  45 J lbs.,  and  on  the  4th  of  March,  1870,  it  was  170 
lbs.,  increase  124|  lbs.  The  large  increase  of  the  weight  of 
the  barrow  pig  in  the  common  pen  is  to  be  attributed  to  his 
superior  size  and  weight  on  being  put  in  the  same  common 
pen  with  the  three  sows,  and  which  enabled  him  to  seize  upon 
and  appropriate  to  himself  moi;e  than  his  share  of  the  com.- 
mon  food. 

If  the  barrow  pig  under  the  violet  light  had  increased  at 
the  rate  of  increase  of  the  barrow  pig  in  the  common  pen,  his 
weight  on  the  4th  March,  1870,  would  have  been  only  Ihlfyl, 
Ibs.^^instead  of  his  actual  weight  of  170  lbs. — showing  his  fate 
of  increase  of  weight  to  have  been  8i«,  lbs.  more  than  that  of 
the  other  barrow  pig. 

If  the  barrow  pig  under  the  sunshine  in  the  common  pen 
had  increased  at  the  rate  of  increase  of  the  barrow  pig  under 
the  violet  glass,  his  weight  on  the  4th.of  March,  1870,  should 
have  been  224/(^  lbs.  instead  of  210  lbs.,  his- actual  weight  at 
that  date. 

. By  these  comparisons  it  seems  obvious  that  the  influence  of 
tlie  violet-colored  glass  was  very  marked,  although  it  must  be 
borne  in  mind  that  6wing  to  the  great  declination  of  the  sun 
during  the  period  of  the  experiment  and  the  consequent  com- 
parative feebleness  of  the  force  of  the  actinic  . or  chemical  rays 
of  the  blue  sky  at  that  time,  the  effect  was  not  so  great  as  it 
would  have  been  at  a later  period  of  the  season ; but  the  time 


10 


■- 1‘  the  experiment  was  selected  for  that  very  reason.  The 
t;viimals  were  not  fed  to  produce  fat  or  increase  of  size,  but 
^■mply  to  ascertain,  if  practicable,  whether  by  the  ordinary 
nmde  of  feeding  usual  on  farms,  in  this  country,  the  develop- 
ment of  stock  could  be  hastened  by  exposing  them  in  pens  to 
t'iie  combined  influence  of  sunlight  and  the  transmitted  rays 
of  the  blue  sky. 

My  next  experiment  was  with  an  Alderney  bull  calf  born  on 
'he  26th  "f  January,  1870 ; at  its  birth  it  was  so  puny  and  fee- 
]>le  that  the  man  Avho  attends  upon  my  stock,  a very  expe- 
rienced hand,  told  me  that  it  could  not  live.  I directed  him 
to  put  it  in  one  of  the  pens  under  the  violet  glass.  It  was  done. 
In  24  hours  a very  sensible  change  had  occurred  in  the  animal. 
It  had  arisen  on  its  feet,  walked  about  the  pen,  took  its  food 
freely  by  the  finger,  and  manifested  great  vivacity.  In  a few 
days  its  feeble  condition  had  entirely  disappeared.  It  began 
to  grow,  and  its  development  was  marvelous.  On  the  31st 
March,  1870,  2 months  and  5 days  after  its  birth,  its  rapid 
growth  was  so  apparent,  that  as  its  hind  quarter  was  then 
growing,  I told  my  eon  to  measure  its  height,  and  to  note 
down  in  writing  the  height  of  the  hind  quarter,  and  the  time 
of  measurement — whi.ch  he  did.  On  the  20th  of  the  follow- 
ing May  (1870),  just  fifty  days  aftei’wards,  my  son  again  mea- 
sured the  hind  quarter,  and  found  that  in  that  time  it  had 
gained  exactly  six  inches  in  height,  carrying  its  lateral  development 
with  it.  Believing  the  question  solved,  the  calf  was  turned  into 
the  barn-yard,  and  when  mingling  with  the  cows  he  manifested 
every  symptom  of  full  masculine  vigor,  though  at  the  time  he 
was  only  four  months  old.  Since  the  1st  of  April  of  this  year, 
when  he  was  just  14  months  old,  he  has  been  kept  with  my 
lierd  of  cows,  and  has  fulfilled  every  expectation  that  I had 
formed  of  him.  He  is  now  one  of  the  best  developed  animals 
that  can  be  found  any  where. 

These,  gentlemen,  are  the  experiments  about  which  your 
curiosity  has  been  excited.  If  by  the  combination  of  sunlight 
and  blue  light  from  the  sky,  you  can  mature  quadrupeds  in 
twelve  months  with  no  greater  supply  of  food  than  would  be 
used  for  an  immature  animal  in  the  same  period,  you  can 
scarcely  conceive  of  the  immeasurable  value  of  this  discovery 
to  an  agricultural  people.  You  would  no  longer  have  to  wait 
five  years  for  the  maturity  of  a colt ; and  all  your  animals 
could  be  produced  in  the  greatest  abundance  and  variety.  A 
prominent  member  of  the  bar  a short  time  since  told  me  that 
bis  sister,  who  is  a widow  of  a late  distinguished  general  in 


11 


the  army,  had  applied  blue  light  to  the  rearing  of  poultry, 
with  the  most  remarkable  success,  after  having  heard  of  my 
experiments.  In  regard  to  the  human  family,  its  influence 
would  be  wide  spread — ^}'ou  could  not  only  in  the  temperate 
regions  produce  the  early  maturity  of  the  tropics,  but  you 
could  invigorate  the  constitutions  of  invalids,  and  develop  in 
the  young,  a-  generation,  physically  and  intellectually,  which 
might  become  a marvel  to  rnankind.  Architects  would  be 
requii'ed  to  so  arrange  the  introduction  of  these  mixed  rays  of 
light  into  our  houses,  that  the  occupants  might  derive  the 
greatest  benefit  from  their  influence.  Mankind  will  then  not 
only  be  able  to  live  fast,  but  they  can  live  well  and  also  live 
long. 

Let  us  attempt  an  explanation  of  this  phenomenon.  It  is 
well  known  that  differences  of  temperature  evolve  electricity*, 
as  do  also  evaporation,  pressure  suddenly  produced  or  suddenly 
removed,  in  ydiich  may  be  comprised  a blow  or  stroke,  as,  for 
instance,  from  the  horseshoe  in  the  rapid  motion  of  a horse  on 
a stone  in  the  pavement,  striking  fire,  which  is  kindled  by  the 
electricity  evolved  in  the  impact,  or,  again,  from  the  collision 
of  two  silicious  stones  in  which  there  is  no  iron,  is  electricity 
produced. 

^ Friction  even  of  two  pieces  of  dried  wood  excites  combus- 
tion by  the  evolution  of  hydrogen  gas  which  bursts  into  flame 
when  brought  into  contact  with  the  opposite  electricity  evolved 
by  the  heat.  Chiystallization,  the  freezing  of  water,  the 
melting  of  ice  or  snow — every  act  of  combination  in  respira- 
tion, every  movement  and  contraction  of  organic  tissues,  and, 
indeed,  every  change  in  the  form  of  matter  evolve  electricity, 
which  in  turn  contributes  to  form  new  modifications  of  the 
matter  which  has  yielded  it. 

The  diamond,  about  whose  origin  so  much  mystery  has 
always  existed,  it  is  likely,  is  the  product  of  the  decomposition 
of  carbonic  acid  gas  in  the  higher  atmosphere  by  electricity, 
libei’ating  the  oxygen  gas,  converting  it  into  ozone,  fusing  the 
carbon,  and  by  the  intense  cold  there  prevailing,  which  is  of 
opposite  electricity,  chrystallizing  the  'fused  carbon,  which  is 
precipitated  by  its  gravity  to  the  earth. 

To  the  repellent  affinity  of  electricity  are  we  indebted  for 
the  expansive  force  of  steam  whose  power  wields  the  mighty 
trip  hammer,  propels  the  ship  through  the  ocean,  and  draws 
the  train  nver  the  land — and  to  the  opposite  electricities  of  the 
heated  steam  and  the  cold  water  introduced  into  the  boiler  to 


repleuisli  it,  do  we  owe  those  terri])le  explosions  in  steam 
boilers  whose  prevention  has  hitherto,  defied  human  skill. 
But  the  most  interesting  application  of  electricity,  is  in 
nature’s  development  of  vegetation.  Let  us  illustrate  it : 

Seed  perfectly  dried,  hut  still  retaining  the  vital  principle, 
like  the  seed  of  wheat  preserved  for  thoupnds  of  years  in 
mummy  cases  in  the  catacoinbs  of  Egypt,  it  planted  in  a soil 
of  the  richest  alluvial  deposits,  also  thoroughly  dried,  will  not 
germinate.  Why?  Let  us  examine.  The  alluvial  soil  is 
composed  of  the  deJrYs  of  hills  and  mountains  containing  an 
extensive  variety  of  metallic  and  metalloid  compomids  min- 
gled with  the  remains  of  vegetable  and  animal  matter  in  a 
state  of  great  comminution,  washed  by  the  rains  and  carried 
by  freshets  into  the  depressions  of  the  surface  of  the  earth, 
'lihese  various  elements  of  the'  soil  have  dilferent  electrical 
attributes.  • In  a perfectly  dry  state  no  electrical  action  will 
occur  amo-ng  them,  hut  let  the  rain,  bringing  with  it  ammonia 
and  carbonic  acid,  in  however  minute  quantities,  froin  the 
upper  atmosphere,  fall  upon  this  alluvial  soil,  so  as  to  moisten 
its  mass  within  the  influeiice  of  light,  heat,  and  air,  and  plant 
your  seed  within  it,  and  what  will  you  observe  ? Rapid  germi- 
nation of  the  seed.  W^hy  ? The  slightly  acidulated,  or  it  may 
be  alkaline  water  of  the  rain  has  formed  the  medium  to  excite 
galvanic  currents  of  electricity  in  the  heterogeneous  matter  of 
the  alluvial  soil— the  vitality  of  the  seed  is  developed  and 
vegetable  life  is  the  result.  Hence  vegetable  life  owes  its 
existence  to  electricity.  Herein  consists  the  secret  of  success- 
ful agriculture.  If  you  can  maintain  the  currents  of  electri- 
city at  the  roots  of  plants  by  suppl};ing  the  acidulated-  or 
alkaline  moisture  to  excite  them  during  droughts,  you  will 
secure  the  most  abundant  and  unvarying  crops.^  To  do  this, 
your  soil  should  be  composed  of  the  most  varied  elements, 
mineral,  earthy,  alkaline,  vegetable,  and  animal  matter  in  a 
state  of  greatly  comminuted  decomposition. 

The  poverty  of  soils  arises  from  the  homogeneous  character 
of  their  composition.  A soil  altogether  clayey,  or  coniposcd  of 
silicious  sand,  or  the  debris  of  limestone,  or  of  alkaline  sub- 
stances exclusively,  must  necessarily  be  barren  for  the  want 
of  electrical  excitement,  which  no  one  of  the  said  elements 
will  produce ; but  commingle  them  all  with  the  addition  of 
decomposed  vegetable  and  animal  matter,  and  you  will  form  a 
soil  which  will  amply  reward  the  toil  of  the  husbandman. 

What  do  you  suppose  has  produced  the  giant  trees  of  Cali- 


13 


fornia?  Electricity!  Since  tlie  west  coast  of  America  has 
been  known  to  Europeans,  and  perhaps  for  centuries  be- 
fore, it  has  been  subjected  to  the  most  devastating  earth- 
quakes. From  the  Straits  of  Magellan  to  the  Arctic 
Ocean,  traces  of  volcanic  action  are  .everywhere  visible.  Its 
mounl'dns  have  been  upheaved,  broken,  torn  asunder,  and 
someti  mes,  like  Ossa  upon  Pelion,  one  has  been  superimposed 
on  another. 

All  volcanic  countries  are  noted  in  the  temperate  regions, 
where  they  produce  anything,  for  the  exuberance  of  their 
vegetable  productions.  Etna  has  been  famous  for  its  large 
Chest- n,xi  trees,  which  have  given  a name  Catania  to  the  to-wn 
near  irs  luise. 

The  ij'noral  richness  of  California  has  doubtless,  by  the 
debris  its  mountains,  carried  into  the  valleys  where  grow 
these  h.i’ge  trees,  furni.shed  an  immense  deposite  of  various 
matter  which,- under  the  favorable  circumstances  of  the  locali- 
ties, In  r . maintained  for  ages  a healthful  electrical  excitement 
resulr-'g  dii-ough  centuries  of  undisturbed  growth  in  these 
vegetu!;ia  wonders. 

Who  is  there  that  has  not  been  struck  with  admiration  in 
looking  rpon  the  firmament,  when  the  atmosphere  was  clear- 
est, was  unclouded  by  the  slightest  vapor, — ^Avhen,  in  the 
brig'  of  sunlight,  it  would  put  on  its  livery  of  blue,  and 
dispiry  its  resplendent  and  glorious  beauties?  How  many 
myris  ds  of  mankind,  in  all  ages,  have  gazed  upon  this  mag- 
nificent arch,  of  what  men  call  “sky;”  and  howfe-\y  havi  - ever 
asked  tbe  question,  Why  is  the  sky  blue?  aiid  why  should  its 
intensity  of  blue  vary  in  different  latitudes,  and  in  difierent 
seasor.is? 

Hl  said  he  had  never  seen  its  blue  so  intense  as  in 

tlie  tr(.‘pio3  and  under  the  equator.  Arctic  navigators  have  also 
declared,  that  in  the  arctic  regions  the  intensity  of  the  blue 
color  01  the  sky  was  amazing.  Here  are  two  extremes  of  lati- 
tude 'lisplaying  the  same  effect;  and  in  our  own  temperate  re- 
gion many  have  observed  a variation  in  the  intensity  of  the 
blue  of  the  sky,  in  different  seasons,  extending  from  the  early 
spring  until  the  close  of  autunni,  but  never  equaling  in  depth 
of  color  what  is  represented  of  it,  eithei  in  the  tropics  or  in 
the  ai’ctic  or  antarctic  regions. 

On  no  part  of  our  planet  is  the  development  of  vegetable 
life  so  grand,  so  various,  80.e.vcessive  and  so  constant  as  in  the 


14 

tropics  and  in  the  eqnatorif/l  r'fegious.  "Wliile  this  wonderful 
display  of  vegetation  is  observed  in  these  regions,  the  exuber- 
ance of  animal  life  and  the  rapid  growth  of  vegetable  life  m 
the  arctic  regions  are  said  to  be  unequaled,  in  any  other  part 
of  our  world.  Let  us  see  if  these  results  in  the  two  natural 
kingdoms  may  not  be  attributed  largely  to  the  same  cause. 

Recent  discoveries  have  shown  that  the  Zodiacal  light  over 
the  equator  and  the  aurorre  borealis  and  australis  arb  evolu- 
tions of  electricity.  In  the  arctic i-egions  there  is  little  doubt 
that  the  auroras  are  constantly  evolved,  though  they  are  not 
txlwciys  visible.  Tbey  li£ive  been  seen  to  emeigo  iioru  tlie  sur- 
face  of  the  ocean,  at  short  distances  from  the  observers,  and 
ascending  into  the  upper  regions  of  the  atmosphere,  to  present 
those  corruscations  of  brilliant  light,  shooting  as  it  were  to 
the  equatorial  regions,  in  rapid  flashes,  for  which  they  have 
been  noted  wherever  observed. 

In  the  equatorial  regions  it  is  well  known  that  af  certain 
periods  of  the  year  the  accumulation  of  efectricity  in  the  upper 
atmosphere'i's  so  excessive, 'that  the  earth  is  shaken  with  thun- 
derbolts, and  the  air  illuminated  by  day  as  well  as  night  with 
constant  shoots- of  electric  flame,  as  they  rush  vith  trighttul 
velocity  to  their  great  .ceutre  ot  attraction,  the  eaith  and  ocean 
in  those  regions.  ^V'h^nce  does  this  electi-icity  come,  and 
where  does  it  go? 

If  we  may  be'  permitted  to  form  a conjectuie,  we  might 
simgest  that  the  sixty  odd  primary  elements  which  enter  into 
the  composition  of  the  crust  of  our  planet  such  as  carbon, 
sulphur,  phosphorus,  oxygen,  nitrogen,  hydrogen,  the  metals, 
the- metalloids,  etc. — ^having  been  endowed  by  the  Creator  with 
different  electrical  qualities  and  conditions — when  they  were 
assembled  together  in  this  planet,  evolved  in  the  interior  there- 
of electricity,  light,  heat,  and  magnetism  in  certain  or  variable 
qualities  and  quantities.  These  constitute  the  forces  winch 
in  all  probability  cause  the  rotation  of  the  earth  upon  its  axis, 
and  assist  in  its  revolution  around  the  sun.  The  electricity  of 
the  interior  of  the  earth  is  supposed  to  be  positive  electricity 

which,  as  soon  as  evolved  there,  would  be  repelled  according 

to  the  law  of  electricity  of  the  same  character  repelling  itself 
—towards  the  poles  of  the  earth,  and  escaping  there,  would 
be  attracted  by  the  negative  electricity  which  surrounds  the 
upper  atmosphere,  and  would  display  itself  by  night  as  aurorae, 
coiTUScating  toward  the  equator,  to  be  there  attiacted  by  t ® 
heated  equatorial  regions,  and  descending  to  the  earth,  to  be 


15 


again_  absorbed  by  it,  for  further  use.  This  escape  of  polar 
electricity  into  the  upper  atmosphere,  and  forming  at  night 
the  aurorje,  when  visible,  and  by  day  the  blue  firmament  or 
sky,  will  account  for  the  intensity  of  the  blue  color  of  the  sky 
both  in  the  arctic  regions  and  the  equatorial  regions. 

This  positive  electricity  of  the  central  interior  of  the  earth, 
repelling  itself  towards  the  poles,  and  from  there  into  the  at- 
mosphere through  the  arctic  and  antarctic  oceans,  and  attracted 
there  by  the  negative  electricity  of  the  upper  atmosphere, 
forms,  by  the  union  of  the  two  electricities,  the  auroras,  caus- 
ing those  crackling  detonations  heard  during  the  prevalence 
of  the  most  brilliant  auroras,  in  high  latitudes  and  evolving 
light,  which,  seen  through  the  vaporous  atmosphere  of  those 
latitudes,  is  displayed  by  refractions  of  its  rays  in  the  lumin- 
ous corruscations  of  varying  tints  as  the  rays  of  the  sun  or 
moon  are  converted  into  the  tints  of  the  rainbow. 

The  negative  electricity  of  those  frigid  regions  attracted  to 
the  equator  through  the  upper  atmos^phere  is  there  concen- 
ti’ated  in.  enormous  quantities,  which  are  conducted  and  dis- 
charged into  the  earth  or  ocean  in  the  tropics,  by  the  incessant 
fall  of  water  in  rain  during  the  rainy  seasons,  every  .drop  of 
water  being  a conductor  of  electricity,  and  every  leaf  of  veo-e- 
tation  assisting  in  the  conduct  and  distribution  of  this  wonder- 
ful force  into  the  earth. 

As  under  certain  circumstances  electricity  becomes  magnet- 
ism, and  this  again  is  converted  into  electricity,  we  can  com- 
prehend how  the  auroral  rays  in  some  instances,  followin'?  the 
law  of  dia-magnetism,  are  attracted  in  the  northern  hemisphere 
towards  the  southwest — magnetic  currents  flowing  from  east 
to  west  in  opposition  to  the  earth’s  motion  from  west  to  east; 
hence  in  the  auroras  you  have  rays  shooting  to  the  zenith  over 
the  equator,  and  others  moving  southwest,  and  others  again 
due  west. 

The  simultaneous  appearance  of.  auroras  frequently  observed 
in  opposite  hemispheres  in  corresponding  latitudes  would  go 
to  show  their  origin  from  a common  impulse  in  the  central  in- 
terior repelling  them  towards  the  poles  from  under  the  equator. 

TV" e now  come  to  a presumed  explanation  of  one  of  the  rea- 
sons for  the  blue  color  of  the  sky. 

The  sun’s  ray,  or  what  is  Called  the  white  light  of  the  sun, 
was  resolved  by  means  of  a glass  prism,  by  Sir  Isaac  Kewton, 
into  the  seven  primary  rays  of  light,  viz.,  red,  blue,  violet,  etc., 


\ 


16 


and  tl-i  oir  com'bination  again  produced  the  white  light-- show- 
ing hotlx  fiynthetically  and  analytically  of  what  the  sun’s  light 
was  composed. 

It  was  announced  in  England  about  the  beginning  of  this 
c'entury,  tiiat  the  red  ray  of  light  was  heating,  the 'yellow  ray 
was  illmniuating,  mid  the  blue  ray  in  a remarkable  degree  sibnidated 
the  devdoynient  of  vegetable  life. 

From  this  discovery  we  can  imagine  the  immense  influence 
whirdi  the  intensely  blue  color  of  the  sky  in  the  equatorial 
regions  has  and  always  has  had  in  conjunction  with  the  sun’s 
white  light,  aixd  the  heat  and  moisture  of  those  regions,  upon 
the  development  there  of  vegetable  life. 

This  intensely  blue  color  of  the  sky  in  the  arctic  regions 
may  also  serve  to  explain  the  exuberance  of  animal  life  tliere. 
It  being  known  that  the  deeper  water  of  the  arctic -ocean  is' 
niucli  warmer  than  the  surface  water  which  is  often  frozen, 
furnishes  abundant  food  for  its  inhabitants.  The  increased 
temjxeratnro  of  this  deep  water  is  probably  derived  from  radi- 
ation of  heat  from  the  interior  of  the  earth  under  it — as  all 
those  regions  ai'e  more  of  less  volcanic;  witness  Iceland,  Jean 
'Mayer, 'Bpitsbergen,  etc.  The  laws,  of  animal  and  vegetable 
life  being  very  analogous,  what  would  stimulate  one  would 
probably  have  a similar  effect  upon  the  othei\ 

In  the  arctic  waters  you  have  warmth,  food,  light  and  elec- 
tricity, escaping  through  the  waters  into  the  air,  and  all  stimu- 
lating life.  ■ ^ 

Whoever  has  noticed  the  dolor  of  the  electric  spark  in  at- 
mospheric air,  from  an  electrical  machine,  will  readily  recog- 
nize its  likeness  of  color  to  the  blue  color  of  the  sky. 

If  experiments  should  be  instituted  to  ascertain  the  electri- 
cal condition  of  the  sky,  as  associated  with  its  blue.color,  and  th(?y 
should  satisfactorily  establish  the  connection,  the  result  would 
prove  to  be  one  of  the  greatest  blessings  ever  conferred  upon 
' mankind.  "What  strength  df  vitality  could  be  infused  into  the 
feeble  young,  the  mature  invalid,  and  the  decrepit  octogena- 
rian! How  rapidly  might  the  various  races  of  our  domestic 
animals  be  multiplied,  and  how  much  might  their  individual 
proportions  be  enlarged! 

One  of  the  most  beautiful  illustrations  of  the  mighty  influ- 
ence of  the  blue  color  of  the  sky  upon  veg^ation,  is  to  be 
found  in  the  gre.cn  color  of  the  lea^ms  of  plants.  It  i.sjcno'wn 
that  blue  and  yellow  when  mixed  produce  gi-een,  which  is 


IT 


darker  when  tlie  blue  is  in  excess  over  the  yellow,  and  tlie  re- 
voi'se  wbcn  the  yellow  pi’edominates.  Now  let  us  obscrye  the 
process  of  germination.  Seeds  are  planted  in  the  soil — at  first 
a wliite  w’orm-like  thread  at  the  lower  part  of  the  seed  appears; 
it  is  Avhite,  ajid  contains  all  the  primary  rays  of  ligbt;  it  is  the 
root  of  the  plant,  and  remaining  under  the  soil  continues  white. 
At  the  upper  end  of  the  seed  also  appears  a white  swelling, 
which  continues  to  grow  upward  till  it  approaches  the  surface 
of  the  soil,  when  a change  occurs  in  its  color.  This  is  the  leaf ; 
it  absorbs  yellow  A’om  the  soil  which  is  brown  (composed  of 
yelloAV  and  black),  and  as  it  comes  within  the  influence  of  the 
blue  sky,  it  absorbs  from  it  the  blue  light,  which  mixing  Avith 
the  yellow  already  absorbed,  produces  at  first  a yellowish^uTeen, 
which  finally  assumes  the  deeper  tinge  of  green  that  is  natmal 
to  the  plant.  The  plant  blossoms,  forms  its  seeds  and  seed-' 
vessels,  and  having  fulfilled  its  mission,  the  blue,  color  of  the 
leaves  is  eliminated,  the  leaves  become  yellow,  and  ahsm'lfing 
the  carbon  of  the  plant,  they  change  their  color  to  brown ; the 
sajn vessels  of  the  leaves  are  choked  by  the  carbon ; the  leaves 
are  dead  and  fall  to  the  ground.  Thus  the  blue  ray  is  the 
symbol  of  vitality — the  yellow  ray  that  of  decay  and  death. 

Robert  Hunt,  in  his  Researches  on  Light,  says  “ that  the 
rays  of  greatest  refrangibility,  viz.,  the  violet, '&c.,  favor  dis- 
oxygenatiou,  but  the  rays^  of  least  refrangibility,  viz.,  red, 
orange,  &c.,  favor  oxygenation.” 

_ “ The  experiments  of  Seunebier  show  that  the  most  refran- 
gible of  the  solar  rays,  a4z.,  the  violet,  are  the  most  active  in 
determining  the  decomposition  of  carbonic  acid  gas  by  plants.” 

These  experiments  have  been  confirmed  by  Mr.  Robert 
Hunt,  who  says,  “ that  experiments  have  been  made  with  ab- 
sorbent. media,  a,nd  the  light  which  has  been  carefully  ana^- 
lyzed,  permeating  under  the  influence  of  blue  light,  in  every 
instance  oxygen.  gas,h as  been,  collected,  but  not  any  under  the 
energetic  action  of  yellow  or  red  light.  * * It  is  only  the  green 
parts  of  plants  which  absorb  carbonic  acid : the  flowers  absorb 
oxygen  gas.  Plants  grow  in  soils  composed  of  divers  mate- 
rials, and  they  derive  frpm  these  by  the  soluble  powers  of 
water,  which  is  taken  up  by  the  roots,  and  by  mechanical 
forces  carried  over  every  part,  carbonic  acid,  carbonates 
and  organic  matters  containing  carbon.  Evaporation  is  con- 
tinually going  on,  and  this  Avater  escapes  freely  from  the  leaves 
during  the  night  when  the  functions  of  the  Amgetable,  like 
those  of  the  animal  Avorld,  are  at  rest,  and  carries  with  it  car- 
bonic acid.  Water  and  carbonic  acid  are  sucked  up  by  ca- 


18 


pillary  attraction,  and  both  evaporate  from  the  exterir  part  of 
fhe  leaves.” 

“ There  is  no  reversion  of  the  processes  "which  are  necessary 
to  suppoi’t  the  life  of  a plant.  The  same  functions  are  ope- 
rating in  the  same  way  by  day  and  by  night,  but  ditfering 
greatly  in  degree.  During  the  hours  of  sunshine  the  whole 
of  the  carbonic  acid  absorbed  by  the  leaves  or  taken  up  with 
water  by  the  roots  is  decomposed,  all  the  functions  of  the 
plant  are  excited,  the  processes  of  inhalation  and  exhalation 
are  quickened,  and  the  plant  pours  out  to  the  atmosphere 
streams  of  pure  oxygen  at  the  same  time  as  it  removes  a large 
quantity  of  deleterious  carbonic  acid  from  it.  In  the  shade 
the  exciting  power  being  lessened,  these  operations  are  slower, 
and  in  the  dark  they  are  very  nearly,  but  certainly  not  quite, 
suspended.” 

“ Although  a blue  glass  or  fluid  may  appear  to  absorb  all 
the  rays  except  the  most  refrangible  ones,  which  have  usually 
been  considered  as  the  least  calorific  of  the  solar  rays ; yet  it  is 
certain  that  some  principle  has  permeated  the  glass  or  fluid  which 
has  a very  decided  and  thermic  influence.  Numerous  experi- 
meirts  have  been  tried  with  the  seeds  of  mignonette,  many 
varieties  of  the  flowering  pea,  the  common  parsley,  and  cresses 
under  the  various  tints  of  glass — with  all  of  them  the  seeds 
have  germinated,  but  except  under  the  blue  glass  these  pjiants 
have  all  been  marked  by  the  extraordinary  length  to  which 
the  stems  of  the  cotyledons  have  grown,  and  by  the  entire  ab- 
sence of  the  plitmuld — no  true  leaves  forming,  the  cotyledons 
soon  perish  and  the  plant  dies ; imder  the  blue  glass  alone  has 
the  process  gone  on  healthfully  to  the  end.” 

“ The  changes  which  take  place  in  the  seed  during  the  pro- 
cess of  germination  have  been  investigated  by  Saussure: 
oxygen  gas  is  consumed  and  carbonic  acid  is  evolved ; and  the 
volume  of  the  latter  is  exactly  equal  to  the  volume  of  the 
former.  The  grain  weighs  less  after  germination  than  it  did 
befgi’e ; the  loss  of  weight  varying  from  one-third  to  one-lifth. 
This  loss  of  course  depends  on  the  combination  of  its  carbon 
with  the  oxygen  absorbed,  which  is  evolved  as  carbonic  acid.” 

“For  the  discovery  that  oxygen" gas  is  exhaled  from  the 
leaves  of  plants  during  the  daytime,  we  are  indebted  to  Dr. 
Priestley ; and  Seunebier  first  pointed  out  that  carbonic  acid 
is  requi  red  for  the  disengagement  of  the  oxj’gen  in  this  pro- 
cess. M.  Theodore  de  Saussure  and  De  Candolle  fully  estab- 
lished this  fact.” 

The  experiments  of  Seunebier  show  that  the  most  refrangi- 


ble  of  tlie  solar  rays,  viz.,  the  violet,  are  the  most  a'ctive  in  deter- 
mining the  decomposition  of  carhonic  acid  hy  plants. 

“We  have  now  certain  knowledge.  We  know' that  all  the 
carhon  which  forms  the  masses  of  the  magnificent  trees  of  the 
forests  and  of  the  herhs  of  the  fields  has  been  supplied  from 
the  atmosphere,  to  which  it  has  been  given  hy  the  functions 
of  animal  life  and  the  necessities  of  animal  existence.  Man 
and  the  whole  of  the  animal  kingdom  require  and  take  from 
the  atmosphere  its  oxygen  for  their  support.  It  is  this  which 
maintains  the  spark  of  life,  and  the  product  of  this  combustion 
is  carbonic  acid,  which  is  thrown  off  as  waste  material,  and 
which  deteriorates  the  air.  The  vegetable  kingdom,  however, 
drinks  this  noxious  vapor ; it  appropriates  one  of  the  elements 
of  this  gas — carbon — and  the  other — oxygen — is  liberated 
again  to  perform  its  services  to  the  animal  world.” 

“The  animal  kingdom  is  constantly  producing  carbonic 
acid,  water  in  the  state  of  vapor,  nitrogen,  and  in  combination 
with  hydrogen,  ammonia.  The  vegetable  kingdom  contin- 
ually consumes  ammonia,  nitrogen,  water,  and  carbonic  acid. 
The  one  is  constantly  pouring  into  the  air  what  the  other  is 
as  constantly  drawing  from  it,  and  thus  is  the  equilibrium  of 
the  elements  maintained.” 

“ Beccaria  examined  the  solar  phosphori,  and  ascertained 
that  the  violet  ray  was  the  most  energetic,  and  the  red  ray  the 
least  so,  in  exciting  phosphorescence  in  certain  bodies.” 

_“M.  Biot  and  the  elder  Becquerel  have  proved  that  the 
slightest  electrical  disturbance  is  sufficient  to  produce  these 
phosphorescent  effects.  May  we  not  therefore  regard  the 
action  of  the  most  refrangible  rays,  viz.,  the  violet,  as  analo- 
gous to  that  of  the  electric  disturbance  ? May  not  electricity 
itself  be  but  a development  of  this  mysterious  solar  emana- 
tion ? ” ■ • 

_ It  has  been  long  known  to  chemists  that  a mixture  of  chlo- 
rine and  hydrogen  gases  might  be  preserved  in  darkness 
without  combining  for  some  time,  but  that  exposure  to  diffused 
day  light  gradually  occasioned  their  combination,  and  which 
is  etfected  with  the  greatest  speed  by  the  extreme,  blue  and  indigo 
rays.  M.  Edmond  Becquerel  in  1839  first  called  attention  to 
the  “ electricity  developed  during  the  chemical  action  excited 
by  solar  agency.” 

The  experiments  of  Dr.  Morichini,  repeated  by  MM.  Carpa 
and.  Ridolfi,  that  violet  rays  magnetized  a small  needle,  were 
successfully  confirmed  by  Mrs.  Somerville. 


20 


not  solely  a radiant  visible  element.  _ It  bas  other 
nroTi,  .■ies  Vvdiich  cannot  be  overlooked.  It  oxidizes,  colors, 
iil  ae'M  - Lio'bt  becomes,  absorbed — light  changes  into  neat, 
ami  heat  into^electricity ; in  fact,  light  in  its  visib  e 

character  only  shows  one  of  its  many  phases.  Light  hole  s 
many  forces  within  its  beams.  It  has  properties,  powers,  ot  its^ 
owii  which  neither  mathematician  nor  optician  can  giasp.  it 
is  a ercat  chemical  agent.  Colors-:are  produced  by  a change 
resnltlug  from  a polaric  act  of  arrestation— yellow  and  red 
yellow  belong  to  the  acids;  blue  and  red  blue  to  the  alkalies. 
The  iimlnlatory  theory  explains  the  radiant  visible  i^ropeity 
of  li'dit,  hut  it  does  not  explain  its  chemical  eftects,  the  opti- 
cal iiohirity  of  a chrystal  and  its  connection  with  the  polmic 
condition  of  its  conkitueiits— the  ditfraetion,  inflection,  intei- 
ferciices,  the  oxidation  of  surfaces  as_  the  cause  of  natural  co- 
lors, t'iie  presence  of  the  chemical  action  of  lig  i , le  piesen 
nf  heat,  electricitv,  magnetism;  yet  xight  produces  all  dhes 
phenomena;  it  vitalizes,  and  the  organic  action  of  light  is 
witnessed  in  the  fauna  and  flora  around. 

I'.ave  seen  that  bine  light,  and  the  violet  ray  which  is  a 
com., on-, id  of  it,  and  the  red  ray-being  the  .mbst  refi-iingihle 
r->vs^ef  !he  solar  spectrum — excite  magnetism,  and  electuuty, 
l)YAvMch  carbonic  acid  gas  evaporated  from  growing  pl.ants 
k decomposed  and  oxygen  theroot 

•xo'ain  in  maturing  the  flowers,  fruit  and  seed  of  the  plant,  thus 
stimaleting  the  active  energies  of  the  plant  into' its  fullest  and 
most  complete  development.  I[owthis  is  just  iviiat  I think  is 
done  in  the  vegetable  world  by'the  blue  light  of  the  firmanent. 
That  Id  Lie  light  of  the  firmanent,  if  not  itself  electro-magne- 
tism eimlves  those  forces  Avhich  compose  it  in  our  atmosphere 
and  anplying  them  at  the  season,  viz.,  the  early  J3nug,  when 
tiie  sL-i  is  finest,  stimulates,  after  the  torpor  of  winter,  the 
active  ener-ies  of  the  vegetable  kingdom,  by  the  decomposi- 
odroibomc  acid  |as-saprlyi.;g  cajhon  for  the  pi  auto 
and  oxygen  to  mature  it,  and  to  complete  its  mission. 

In  tlie  experiment  which  I have  made  in  the  cultivation  of 
cn’apes  under  violet  light,  I have  endeavored 
ft  the  blue  light  of  the  firmanent,  causing  the  other  rays  ol  the 
solai  sSrufi  to  be  absorbed  while  the  blue  and  violet  rays 
were  iLrmitted  to  permeate  the  violet  glass  into  the  gnpiery. 
The  ditference  of  tLperature  under  the  white  glass  and  under 
the  violot  glass  of  the  grapery  is  supposed  to  bave  exei  ed 

currents  of  electricity  sufficient  to  decompose  more  lapidly  the 

carbonic  acid  gas  that  bad  been  evaporated  fi-pm  the  leaves 
the  vines,  than  would  have  been  doue  under  the  influence  of 


21 


the  suiishiae  alone — thus  stimulating  the  increased  ahsorptiOn 
of  ox/gen,  and  the  deposit  of  carbon  in  the  vines,  and-  con- 
stantly and  quickly  renewing  the  evaporation  of  carbonic  acid 
gas.  The  result  has  been  seen  in  tlie  wonderfully  large  pro- 
duct of  fruit,  accompanied  by  a prodigious'  formation  of  new 
wood,  to  yield  the  crop  of  fruit  for  the  ensuing  year. 

The  investigations  that  have  been  made  during  the  present 
century  regarding  light  have  developed  the  existence  of  some 
remarkable  attributes ; one  of  the  most  astonishing  is  the  dis- 
covery that  there  is  no  heat  per  se  in  the  sun’s  ray,  though  it 
is  one  of  the  causes  which  produce  heat.  This  is  established 
beyond  dispute  by  the  existence  of  the  intense  cold  which  pre- 
vails in  the  upper  atmosphere,  increasing  with  its  altitude,  and 
through  which  all  the  sunlight  which  reaches  the  earth  must 
pass,  but  whose  temperature  it  cannot  alter.  Hence  you  have 
at  the  present  time  the  line  of  perpetual  snow,  according  to 
Professor  Agassiz,  at  an  elevation  of  15,000  feet  at  the  equator, 
of  6,000  feet  at  the  latitude  of  45°,  and  gradually  approaching 
the  surface  -of  the  earth,  till  it  reaches  it  at  60°  of  north  lati- 
tude, beyond  w.hich  ice  prevails  nearly  to  the  pole. 

Aeronauts  have  remarked  also  at  great  altitudes  above  the 
earth  that  the  thermometer  had  ceased  to  mark  any  variation 
of  temperature  w'hen  exposed  in  the  full  sunshine  or  in  shadow. 

A curious  illustratioh  of  the  fact  that  something  more  is 
needed  than  sunlight  to  produce  heat  is  to  be  found  in  the  fact 
stated  by  the  famous  arctic  navigator.  Dr.  Scoresby,  as  well  as- 
by  others,  that  when,  after  a long  night  in  the  arctic  regions, 
the  sun  had  appeared,  though  the  thermometer  was  below  32° 
of  Fahrenheit,  and  everything  around  was  frozen  hard,  he 
observed  that  the  pitch  with  which  the  seams  of  the  jilanks  of 
the  ship  had  been  payed,  on  the  side  of  the  ship  exposed  to 
the  sun,  wa's  melted,  notwithstanding  the  giniat  declination  of 
the  sun  aiid  the  small  angle  of  incidence,  that  the  nearly  liori- 
pntal  rays  of  it  made  as  they  fell  upon  the  pitch,  while  that 
in  the  shade  on  the  other  side  of  the  ship  was  so  hard  that  it 
was  with  difficulty  broken  with  a hatchet — other  objects  on  the 
ship  manifesting  at  the  same  time  the  low  temperature  marked 
by  the  thermometer.  I am  not  aware  that  any  explanation  of 
this  phenomenon  has  ever  been  attempted.  I may,  therefore, 
offer  to  suggest  that  the  pitch  being  an  electric  or  non-con- 
ductor of  electricity  and  negatively  electrifi.ed  when  the. sun’s 
ray  positively  electrified  fell  upon  it,  an  explosion  took  place, 
heat  was  evolved,  and  the  pitch  was  melted — ^thus  proving  that 


froni  =!un8liine  is  produced  by  tlic  contact  of  an  electricity 
opposed  to  that  of  the  sun’s  rays. 

As  a corollary  from  what  has  just  been  stated,  it  may  be. 
observed,  that  the  heat  of  the  equatorial  and  tropical  oceans  is 
•lot  de^  i ve  d from  the  sun.  We  do  not  heat  our  houses  by 
kindl’no-  fires  at  the  tops  of  our  chimneys  or  boil  our  water 
! roni  obove,  but  rather  we  descend  into  our  cellars,  and  make 
onr  Urea  for  that  purpose  in  the<furnaces  constructod^there. 
Besides,  we  know  that  from  the  surface  of  the  water,  if  at  rest, 
n'ul  fr<>m  its  many  surfiices,  if  agitated  by  winds,  the  rays  of 
i he  smi  would  be  reflected  in  all  possilde  angles  corresponding 
10  the  angles  of  incidence  of  the  rays  themselves,  and  the  heat 
would  l)o"lost  in  space.  Whence  comes,  then,  this  ocean  heat 
hi  the  tropics,  finding  its  vent  in  the  arctic  and  antaictic 
regiovis  through  the  Gulf  Stream  of  the  Atlantic,  and  the 
dapan  Stream  laving  the  shores  of  northeastern  Asia,  and  the 
south-eastern  current  running 'along  the  south-western  coast 
^-'f  South  America  to  the  Antartic  seas  ? Does  it  not  come  by 
radiation  from  the  interior  of  the  earth  from  those  great  fires 
which,  by  the  elastic  gases  and  vapors  engendered  there,  in 
raanv  parts  of _ the  world  upheave  mountains  and  islands,  and 
forming  chimneys  for  themselves  in  their  summits,  belch  oi^ 
that  superfluous  heat,  light,  electricity,  and  magnetism  which 
radiation  to  the  surface  of  the  earth  at  times  is  inadequate  to 
discharge?  And  are  not  these  great  ocean  currents  of  heated 
water  merely  channels  or  flues  of  radiation  of  heat  fiom  he- 
iieath,  by  which,  for  climatic  purposes,  the  Ornnipotent  Creator 
has  devised  the  means  of  distributing  this  interior  heat  over 
■the  surface  of  our  planet  ? 

All  admit  the  existence  of  those  great  forces  of  nature  in 
the  interior  of  the  earth,  manifested  through  volcanic  action 
in  those  imponderable  elements  of  heat,  light,  electricity,  and 
niao-netism.  Why  are  those  forces  there?  May  they  not  be 
the'^forces  which  turn  the  earth  on  its  axis,_and  aid  in  propel- 
lino-  it  around  the  sun  ? May  not  the  frigid  zones  north  and 
south  furnish  the  cold  cushions  of  water  in  the  extreme  depths 
of  the  ocean,  of  the  uniform  temperature  of  39J°  of  I ahren- 
heit  and  of  nearly  the  greatest  density  known  to  that  elenaent, 
for  the  purpose  of  restraining  and  controlling  the  radiation  of 
that  great  interior  heat  of  the  earth,  which  otherwise  might 
be  wasted? 

Dr.  Winslow,  in  his  treatise  on  light,  its  influence  on  life 
and  health,  says : “ Accurate  calculations  have  been  made  as  to 
the  temperature  of  the  ocean.  The  results  obtained  clearly 
establish  that  the  lowest  degrees  of  temperature  are  obtainable 


on  the  surface  of  the  -vrater;  and  that  about  ten  feet  below  the 
surface  the  thermometer  rises  several  degrees, — 90°  is  said  by 
Mr.  Agassiz  (son  of  Professor  Agassiz,)  to  be  the  highest  tem- 
perature he  has  known  the  oceau  to  attain ; at  very  great 
depths  of  the  ocean  a uniform  temperature  of  about  39i-°  has 
been  found.”  . 

The  low  temperature  of  the  surface  water  of  the  oceau  is 
attributable  to  the  evaporation  which  is  constantly  goiug  on, 
carrying  off  the  atmospheric  heat  adjacent,  and  proving  con- 
clusively, that  the  Gulf  and  other  -^arm  ocean  cuiTents  do  not 
derive  their  heat  from  the  sun. 

These  reflections  have  forced  themselves  upon  me,  while 
pondering  over  some  of  the  great  revelations  of . nature. 

In  a recent  report  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Agricultural  Bu- 
reau at  Washington,  he  states — “ On  the  loth  of  June  the  suu 
is  more  than  23°  north  of  the  equator,  and  therefore  it  miglit 
be  inferred  that  the  intensity  of  heat  should  be  greater  at  this 
latitude  than  at  the  equator ; but  that  it  should  continue  to 
increase  beyond  this  even  to  the  loole,  may  not  at  first  sight  appear 
so  clear.  It  will,  however,  be  undei-stood  when  it  is  recol- 
lected that  though  in  a northern  latitude  the  obliquity  of  the 
ray  is  greater,  and  on  this  account  the  intensity  should  be  less, 
yet  the  longer  duration  of  the  day  is  more  than  sufficient  to 
compensate  for  this  effect  and  produce  the  result  exhibited.” ' 

It  strikes  me  that  this  explanation  is  not  sound.  I remem- 
ber several  years  ago,  at  Philadelphia,  on  the  afternoon  of  a 
day  in  August,  when  the  thermometer- was  at  94°,  that  in  fif- 
teen minutes  the  thermometer  fell  40°,  which  was  owino-  no 
doubt  to  a descending  column  of  cold  air  from  the  upper  at- 
mosphere, attracted  by  some  local  electrical  disturbance.  The 
continuous  heat  of  the  preceding  summer  months  could  no 
more  prevent  this  thermal  change  at  Philadelphia  than  could 
the  long  day  with  the  oblique  sun’s  rays  increase  the  intensity 
of  the  heat  in  high  northern  latitudes. 

Professor  Maury  says— “The  summer  temperature  as  ob- 
served on  the  very  borders  of  the  Polar  ocean  is  absolutely 
marvelous.  Observations  made  with  a view  of  determining 
this  accurately  have  for  some  years  been,  taken  in  Alaska! 
One  of  the  observers  in  the  northern  district  of  Yukon  states 
in  the  ‘Agricultural  Report’  for  1868,  ‘I  have  seen  the  ther- 
mometer at  noon  at  Port  Yukon,  not  in  the  direct  rays  of  the 
sun,  standing  at  112° ; and  I hm  informed  by  the  commander 
of  the  post  that  several  spirit  thermometers  graduated  to  120° 
had  burst  under  the  scorching  sun  of  the  arctic  midsummer, 
which  can  only  be  appreciated  by  one  who  has  endured  it.  In 


24 


midsummer,  on  the  Upper  Uukou,  the  only  relief  from  the 
intense  heat  un.der  which  vegetation  attains,  an  almost  tropical 
luxuriance,  is  the  two  or  three  hours  during  which  the  sun 
hovers  near  the  northern  horizon,  and  the  weary  voyager  in 
his  canoe  blesses  the  transient  coolness  of  the  midnight  air. 

A-C'cerdhig  to  hi.  (le  Humboldt,  the  sky  is  bluer  between  the 
tro'des  than  in  the  higher  tempei’ate  latitudes,  but  paler  at  sea 
than  in  the  interior  of  countries ; the  blue  is  less  intense  at 
the  horizon  than  at  the  zenith.  The  early  maturity  of  human 
r.fe  in  the  tropics  is  to  be  attributed  to  the  stimulating  influ- 
ence of  the  enormous  quaatitios  of  electricity,  which,  continu- 
ally passing  by  day  as  well  as  hy  night  in  the  auroras  from  the 
poles  to  the  equator,  and  descending  to  the  earth  in  those  re- 
gions, in  those  dazzling  sheets  of  lightning  flame,  so  terrifj  ing 
to  all  who  have  witnessed  them,  and  conducted  hy  the  inces- 
sant rains  Jirevailing  there  in  certain  seasons  of  the  year  de- 
ox^imnate  the  enormous  volumes  of  carbonic  acid  gas  gene- 
rated hy  the  exuberant  vegetation,  as  well  in  its  growth  as  in 
its  decay,  thus  supplying  excessive  quantities  of  oxygen  gas  to 
stimulate  and  support  the  animal  life,  as  well  as  carbon  to  fhe 
fresf  vegetation  which- is  being  continually  renewed— the  cir- 
cle of  development  and  decay  in  the  vegetable  kingdom  being 
thus  always  preserved.  V 

'Vv^'e  have  thus?  seen  that  the  magnetic,  electric,  and  thermic 
pmvers  of  the  Sun’s  ray  reside  in  the  violet  ray,  vkidi  is  a 
compo-ond ■ of  the  blue  and  red  rays.  These  constitute  Avhat  are 
terme  d the  chemical  powers  of  the  sunlight.  That  they  are 
tlie  most  important  powers  of  indturc,  tiiore  can  he  no  doubt, 
as  T^'ivliout  tlioni  life  cannot  exist  on  tliis  planet.  TV^itliout  tlicse 
chemical  powers  there  could  he  no  vegetation.  'Without  veg- 
etation there  could  he  no  insect  life,  and  no  development  of 
the  higher  order  of  animal  existence.  Tlie  earth  would  he 
without  form  and  void,  and  we  can  now  uiiderstaiid  the  poten- 
tial iiieaniiig  of  the  first  sulilimo  utterance  of  the  ,A.lmighty  in 
forming  this  earth,  when  he  said  “Lot there  he  Light, 
there  was.  Light.  ■ 

From  the  foregoing  premises,  we  deduce  the  following  con- 
clusions : ' ■ ■ ' ■ ^ , 

1.  Heat  is  developed  hy  opposite  electricities  in  conjunction 
and  in  proportion  to  the  quantity  and  intensity  of  those  elec- 
tricities in  contact  with  each  other,  will  he  the  intensity  of  the 

The  blue  color  of  the  sky,  for  one  of  its  functions,  de- 
oxygenates carbonic  acid  gas,  supplying  carbon  to  vegetation 
and  sustaining  both  vegetable  and  animal  life  with  its  oxygen. 


APPENDIX. 


[I-] 

UNITED  STATES  PATENT  OFFICE.  119,242, 

ArausTus  J.  Pleasontox,  of  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania. 

L.  prorrA^it  in  Accelerating  the  Growth  of  Plants  and  Animals. 
Spfiifieations  forming  j>art  of  Letters  Patent  No..  119,243, 
dated  September  26, 1871. 

7 ; all  whom  it  may  concern  : . 

p0  it  known  that  I,  Augustus  J.  Pleasonton,  of  the  city  of 
Pi.ilauuh-hia,  in  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  have  discovered  a new 
and  v tluablo  aid  and  improvement  in  accelerating  the  growth  to 
maturity  of  plants,  vines,  vegetables,  cereals,  and  the  flora  of  the 
vegetable  kingdom  of  nature,  and  of  animals,  fowls,  fishes  and 
birds  of  the  animal  kingdom  of  nature;  and  that  I do  hereby 
declare  the  following  to  bo  a full,  clear,  and  exact  description  of 
the  0|;  -rotion  of  the  same  by  means,  of  combining  the  natural 
light  of  the  sun  transmitted  through  transparent  glass  with  the 
nam-ral  light  of  the  sun  transmitted  through  blue  ^ass  or  any  of 
t'it  var.eties  of  blue,  as  indigo  or  violet,  in  varied  proportions  of 
biuo  and  white  glass,  from  one  of  blue  to  eight  of  white,  up  to 
equal  proportions  of  blue  and  white,  as  greater  or  less  caloric  is 
needed,,  according  to  the  nature  of  the  plants  or  animals,  to 
accelerate  their  natural  growth,  increase  their  vitality,  and  h:i„sten 
inaturiiy ; reference  being  also  raadO  to  the  accompanying  drawing 
making  a part  of  this  specification,  in  which  the  figux’e  represents 
one  form  of  construction  of  a conservatoi'y  or  grapery,  in  which 
A A A represent  the  clear  or  transparent  glass,  and  13  the  blue 
or  coloured  glass.  Proper  ventilation  is  ofibeted  by  moans  of  wire 
cloth  placed  in  the  walls,  as  shown  at  C,  and  which  can  bo  opened 
and  clo.sed  at  pleasure  by  means  of  hinged  glazed  sashes,  as  shown 
at  D.  There  is  also  represented  at  E a hinged  sash,  glazed  with 
both  cle.y  and  blue  glass,  for  changing  the  angle  of  incidence  to 
agree  with  the  declination  of  the  sun.  ' These  proportions  of  the 
natural  light  of  the  sun  with  the  blue  or  electric  transmitted  rays 


may  be  varied  to  conform  to  the  epeeific  constitution  of  the 
varieties  oV  life  in  the  vegetable  world  and  the  vaiaetles  of  consti- 
tution in  the  animal  world,  and  can  only  bo  ascertained  throughout 
both  Icingdoms  by  progressive  and  continued  ex])eriinent.  rho 
proportions  of  the  heating  rays  and  the  transmitted  blue  electric 
rays  must  be  varied  to  conform  to  the  constitutional  vitality  ot 
the  vegetable  or  animal,  and  care  must  be  had  that  the  heating  or 
caloric  .light  is  not  in  excess  of  the  electric  or  vitalizing  and 
, growing  ti’ansmittcd  blue  light.  • • . 

^ I confine  myself  to  no  particular  form,  externally  or  intcrnahy  , 
of  the  buildings  to  be  used,  whether  they  apply  to  the  growth  and 
propagation  of  plants,  vegetables,  fruits,  &o.,  or  to  the  ^rowtu 
pro])agation,"&c.,  of  animals,  fishes  and  fov.ds;  but  the  best  lonn  is 
that  building  which  will  receive  the  rays  of  the  sun  daring  its  daily 
revolution  as  nearly  perpendicular  as  pi’acticable_  to  the  surfaces 
of  the  glass  covering,  so  that  the  rays  shall  bo  as  little  dcfiected  as 
possible,  an<i  the  tiers  or  rows  of  blue  glass,  violet  or  other  degrees 
of  blue,  shall  be  continuous  over  the  encire  portion  of  the  building 
on  which  the  sun  shines,  imparting  in  this  way  to  every  portion 
of  tlio  interior  uniformly  throughout  the  day  the  caloric  und 
electric  rays  in  the  proportions  of  white  and  blue  glass  in  their 
alternations.  Suen  structures  should  be  built  on  curves,  Ce<nfoim- 
ing  to  the  curve  in  which  the  sun  moves  in  its  daily  revolution, 
and  the  alternating  rows  of  white  and  blue  glass^  should  extend 
over  the  portions  on  which  the  sun  shines,  so  that  in  the  course  oi 
the  day  plants  and  vegetables,  wherever  they  grow  under  the 
glass,  will  all  have  the  same  exposure  to  the  caloric  ^od  electuc 
transmitted  light.  Variations  from  these  forms  of  buildings,  and 
variations  in  the  proportion  of  the  natural  caloric  and  blue 
electric  light  will,  in  degree,  aepelerate  the  growth  and  maturity 
of  plants  and  animals  depending  upon  their  constitution  and 
vitality;  and  the  same  proportions  that  hasten  growth  in  the 
vegetable  kingdom  are  not  the  best  for  many  animals  ot  the 
animal  kingdom.  Experience  alone  can  determine  the  best  pro- 
portions of  natural, and  blue  light,  depending  on  the  constitution 
of  the  animal  and  the  nature  of  plants.  In  extreme  northern 
latitudes  the  form  given  to  the  glass  buildings  so  as  to  take  the 
sun’s  rays  perpendicularly  to  the  surfaces  during  the  day  would 
vary  from  the  form  that  should  bo  given  in.  soutnern.  latitudes  to 
effect  the  same  purpose.  Therefore  no  one  general  plan  for  the 
construction  of  conservatories,  graperies,  houses  for  animals,  &c., 
can  be  adopted  or  described  beyond  the  rule  for  the  builders  to 
conform  the  shape  of  tho  glass  portions  so  as  to  present  their 
surfaces  around  bis  building  in  form  to  take  the^  sun’s_  rays  as 
nearly  perpendicularly  as  practicable,  so  as  to  avoid  their  deflec- 
tion. All  persons  skilled  in  building  will  readily  understand  this 
principle,  and  be  enabled  to  make  use  of  the  discovery  and  apply 
it  to  practical  use,  in  whatever  place  he  may  live,  extreme  north 


27 


or  extreme  south,  within  the  limits  of  the  sun’s  rising  and  settino-. 
1 prefer,  as  a transmitting  medium  for  the  electric  rays  of  the 
sun,  blue  glass,  violet  and  indigo;  but  I do  not  confine  myself  to 
t he  use  of  glass,  as  the  sun’s  transmitted  rays  convey  these  colors 
through  other  media,  producing  in  degree  the  same  results. 

In  buildings  for  the  treatment  of  invalids,  whether  they  be  men 
or  animals,  no  particular  form  or  construction  of  hospital,  house  or 
stable  will  be  necessary,  as  the  beds  of  invalid  men  and  the  places 
for  animals  can  be  so  changed  that  the  order  of  the'  means  for 
transmitting  the  blue  light  maybe  very  variable.  The  propor- 
tion of  electric  blue  light  and  the  natural  light,  however,  should 
be  constant,  or  as  nearly  so  as  practicable,  after  the  proportions 
are  ascertained  by  expeidenee  that  prove  most  beneficial  in  their 
healing  process. 

I do  not  pretend  to  be  the  first  discoverer  of  the  vitalizing  and  life- 
growing  qualities  of  the  transmitted  blue  light  of  the  solar  rays 
and  its  effect  in  quickening  life  and.intensifying  vitality.  ' 

I have  found,  upon  patient  and  long  experiments,  running 
through  many  years,  that  plants,  fruits  of  plants,  vines  and  fruits 
ot  vines  and  vegetables  so  housed  and  inclosed  as  to  admit  the 
natural  light  of  the  sun  through  ordinary  glass,  and  the  trans- 
mitted light  of  the  solar  rays  through  the  glasses  of  blue,  yiolet  or 
purple  colours  in  the  proportion  of  eight  of  natural  light  to  one  of 
the  blue  or  electric  light,  grow  much  more  rapidly,  ripen  much 
quicker,  and  produce  much  larger  crops  of  fruit  than  the  same 
plants  housed  and  treated  with  the  natural  light  of  day,  the  soils 
and  fertilizers  and  treatment  and  culture  being  identical  in  both 
cases  and  the  exposure  tbe  same. 

I have  also  found,  by  repeated  and  patient  experiments  of  several 
years,  that  young  animals,  fishes  and  fowls  under  the  same  care 
lood,  regimen,  and  treatment  grow  much  more  rapidly  and  to  a 
much  larger  size  under  the  influence  of  the  combined  natural  li./ht 
of  day  with  the  transmitted  blue  electric  light  than  when  exposed 
only  to  the  natural  sunlight,  andjthat  their  flesh  is  equally  good  and 
tiieir  health,  vigor  and  constitutions  are  equal  to  those  that,  under  tho 
same  cireumstauces  of  food,  care  and  shelter,  grow  in  the  nataraf 
light.  In  these  experiments  with  animals,  fishes  and  fowls,  I have 
not  used  the  same  proportions  of  natural  light  and  transmitted 
blue  light,_viz;  eight  of  natural  to  one  of  blue  light,  that  I used  in 
my  experiments  with  vines,  vegetables  and  fruits,  but  with  tho 
first  named  the  proportions  of  natural  and  blue  light  were  equal  • 
and  I prefer  not  those  proportions  of  the  natural  caloric  light  and 
the  transmitted  electric  light;  yet  I do  not  doubt  that  other  pro- 
portions, depending  upon  the  different  organic  constitutions  in 
both  the  animal  and  vegetable  creations,  may  bo  found  to  combine 
hfe-growing  and  vitalizing  powers  even  exceeding  tbe  results  I 
have  produced,  and  still  more  productive  of  good  in  creating 
greater  results.  In  these  experiments  I have  discovered  and 


28 


proved  Ihfit  the  transmitted  blue  light  of  the  solar  raj’s  in  its 
ditto -ent  degrees  of  intensity  of  color,  in  combination  witli  natural 
sunlight,  inrparts  vigour  and  vitality  to  the  vegetation  and  life- 
fronTn f principle  in  nature,  heretofore  unknown  and  never  hefoie 
utilized°and  applied  to  practical  results  of  incalculable  value  to 
stock  growing,  to  agriculture  and  horticulture,  both  as  relates  to 
time,  labor  and  economy. 

I have  also  discovered,  by  experiment  and  practice,  special  and 
specific  efficacy  in  tbe  use  of  this  combination  of  the  caloric  rays 
of  the  sun  and  the  electric  blue  ligid  in  stimulating  the  glands  of 
the  body,  the  nervous  system  generally,  and  the  secretive  organs 
of  man  and  animals.  It  therefore  becomes  an  important  clement 
in  the  treatment  of  diseases,  especially  such  as  have  bocom-o 
chrome,  or  result  from  derangement  of  the  secretive,  perspiratory 
or  glandular  functions,  as  it  vitabi^cs  and  gives  renewed  activity 
and  force  to  the  vital  currents  that  keep  the  health,  unimpaired;  or 
restores  them  when  disordered  or  deranged. 

Having  thus  fully  described  my  discovery  and  invention,  what  I 
claim,  and  desire  to  have  secured  to  me  by  Letter  Patent,  is 

1,  The  method  herein  described  for  utilizing  the  natural  light  of 
the  sun  transmitted  through  clear  glass,  and  the  blue  or  electric 
solar  rays  transmitted  through  blue,  purple  or  violet  coloured 
glass,  or  its  equivalent,  in  the  propagation  and  growth  of  plants 
and  animals, -substantially  as  herein  set  forth. 

2.  The  hereia  described  construction  of  conservatories  and  other 
buildings,  when  tlio  roof,  "walls  or  parts  thereof  arc  covered  with 
alternating  portions  of  clear  and  l>lue,  purple,  or  violet  glass  or 
equivalents,  as  and  for  the  purposes  set  forth. 

In  testimoiTcy  that  I claim  the  above,  I have  hereunto  snO-^ 
scribed  my  name  in  the  presence  of  two  witnesses  at  the  titj  of 
Philadelphia,  the  23d  day  of  Jiine,  A.  D.  1871. 

^ ’ AUGUSTUS  J.  PLEASONTON. 

Witnesses : 

H.  Tunison, 

II.  A.  Nagle. 


[II.] 

In  the  winter  of  the  year  1872,1  called  at  the  Pennsylvania 
Hosnital,  on  Pine  street,  between  Eighth  and  Ninth  streets,  in  this 
city,  to  suggest  to  its  officers  the  introduction  of  my  plan  of  using 
the  associated  light  of  the  sun  and  the  blue  colour  of  the  S'W 
alleviating  the  sufferings  of,  and  probably  in  restoring  to  health 
many  of  their,  patients.  On  being  presented  to  them,  one  oi  the 
resident  physicians,  on  hearing  my  name  mentioned,  asked  ’f 
I was  the  author  of  the  experiments  with  blue  light  of  which  ho 
had  read  r.n  accouut.  On  receiving  my  answer,  he  said ; “ 1 have 


2J 


pomctliing  curious  to  tell  you.  I fim  a native  of  Tlrazil,  where  niy 
father  still  resides ; I have  been’ educated  in  the  United  States; 
last  week  I received  a package  of  books,  pamphkU'i,  &c.,  from  my 
father,  in  Brazil,  who  had  ordered  thoin  from  Paiis.  In  his  ac- 
companying letter  my  father  directed  my  partitnilar  attention  to 
a French  pamphlet  wliich  detailed  some  remarkahle  experiments 
on  animal  and  vegctalde  life,  that  had  been  mude  with  blue  glass 
and  .sunlight,  that  he  thought  would  he  nsefiil  to  me  in  my  medical 
proicssion.  On  examining  the  pamphlet  1 discovered  it  to  be  a 
transliftion  in  tho  French  language  of  your  memoir  on  that  subject. 
The  translator,  however,  had  not  mentioned  your  name  in  it,  or 
even  tho  namo  of  the  locality  where  the  exj)criments  had  been 
made.  It  evidently  was  intended  to  convoy  the  impression  that 
the  experiments  had  been  made  in  Paris.” 

If  the  trumslator  was  a Frenchman  we  can  pardon  him  for 
omitting  the  name  of  tho  author, .in  memory  of  tlio  ancient  Bevo- 
lutionary  aliiancc  between  liis  nation  and  our  own.  We  can  oven 
condone  his  fault,  smarting  as  he  must  have  been  under  the  then 
recent  loss  of  Alsace  and  Lorraine — but  wo  think  that  it  might 
have  occurred  to  him  that  the  scene  of  my  experiments  was  rdso 
the  locality  of  tho  electrical  experiments  of  Frtinklin,  whom  his 
countrymen  and  women  always  delighted  to  honor,  and  henc.  ihe 
namo  of  Franklin’s-  home  might  have  been  associated  with  the 
announcement  of  discoveries  in  physics  that  do  no  discredit  > ven 
to  those  of  Franklin  himself. 


[ni] 

V 

Til's  Diamoxi);  its  OuiGiN. — In  former  editions  of  this  memoir 
I have  attribated  the  origin  of  the  diamond  to  electricity  in  the 
upper  atmosphere  decomposing  carbonic  acid  gas,  fusing  the  car- 
bon, converting  tho  oxygon  gas  into  ozone,  and  crystalizing  tho 
fused  carbon,  under  the  great  evaporating  power  of  the  intense 
cold  there  prevailing.  The  Atheneura  says;  “A  somewhat  novel 
idea  is  stated  by  M.  Desdemaines  Hugoii,  in  a paper  ‘ On  the 
Diamond  Diggings  of  South  Africa,’  which  is  printed  in  tho  Revue 
ScientiJiquedelaFranee  et  1’ Stranger.  He  states  that  theair  is  always 
highly  electric  where  diamonds  abound,  and  he  intimates  his 
opinion  that  this  may  throw  sotne  light  on  the  formation  of  that 
gem.” 


30 


[IV.] 

[From  the  President  of  the  Indiana  University.'] 

Indiana  XlNivEasiTY,  ' "I 
Bloomington,  June  15, 1871.  j 


Gen.  Pleasonton. 

Bear  Sir: — I received  a few  days  ago  a pamphlet  containing 
an  account  of  your  iuteresting  experiments  on  the  influence  of  the 
blue  ray  in  developing  animal  and  vegetable  life.  If.  the  experi- 
ments, where  it  so  difficult  to  determine  tlio  amount  of  influence 
duo  to  the  light,  eorapai’ed  with  that  due  to  other  circumstances, 
have  been  fairly  made,  as  doubtless  they  have  been,  you  have 
opened  up  a now  field  of  great  practical  usefulness  to  all  the  world. 
Thanking  you  for  your  kindness  in  sending  me  your  treatise,  1 
remain. 

Very  respectfully  yours, 

T.  A.  WYLIE, 


[V.] 

[P/'o/n  the  President  of  the  Lehigh  University^ 

The  Lehigh  Un-iversitv,  ) 

South  Betflehem,  Pa.,  President’s  Booms,  July  10, 1871.  ) . 
My  Dear  General  ; 

I have  ju.st  received  and  at  once  read  your  very  interesting 
paper  on -violet  rays, 

The  facts  are  astonishing,  and  your  explanation  evinces  care, 
judgment  and  research. 

I shall  take  pleasure  in  putting  it- among  our  scientific  papers, 
and  thank  you  for  oending  it.  ; 

Yery  faithfully  yours, 

HENRY  COPPJiE. 

Gen’l.  Pleasonton. 


[YL] 

[From  the  Ron.  -Wrh.  M.  J^eredith,  late  Secretary  of  the  Treasury 
of  the  United  States  ] 

My  Dear  Pleasonton  : 

I have  delayed  thanking  you  for  the  pamphlet  you  sent  me, 
till  I should  have  read  it,  which  I have  now  done  twice,  with 
very  great  interest  and  pleasure.  I congratulate  you  sincerely 
on  the  discovery  you  have  made,  which  must  not  only  be  greatly 
valuable  in  Agriculture  and  Horticulture,  but  in  many  other 
matters  as  well. 

Alwai'S  faithfully  vours, 

W.  M.  MEREDITH. 

Gen.  Pleasonton,  Monday,  10th  July,  1871. 


31 


[TIL] 

[From  Wm.  A.  Ingham,  Esq,,  a Director  of  the  Lehigh  Talley 
itailroad  Company. 1 

320  "WAiiNUT  St..  ) 

Philadelphia,  AuguU  29th,  1871.  | 

Pear  General : 

' Alio  .V  me  to  return  my  thanks  for  the  copies  of  your  pamphlet. 
I have  read  it  with  great  interest  and  am  satisfied  that  your  dis- 
covery will  have  wonderful  results,  revolutionizing  in  fact  the 
f-cience  of  horticulture. 

I am,  very  truly  yours, 

WM.  A.  INGHAM. 

- Gen.  a.  J.  Pleasonton. 


[Till.] 

[ From  the  Hon.  Joserh  R.  Chandler,  late  Minister  Plenipotentiary 
of  the  United  States  at  the  Court  of  Naples  ] 

153  North  Tenth  Street,  ) 

20th  September,  1871.  j 

Pe.ar  Sir; 

I thank  you  for  a copy  of  the  third  edition  of  your  pamphlet  on 
'■  the  influence  of  the  blue  colour  of  the' sky.”  I cannot  doubt 
the  importance  of  your  discovery,  nor  fail  to  see  that  the  public 
must  hold  itself  indebted  to  you  for  your  interesting  and  success- 
ful experiments. 

W'itb  great  respect,  your  servant, 

JOS.  E.  CHANDLER. 

Gen.  Pleasonton. 


[IX.] 

Department  of  the  Interior,  1 
Patent  Office.  j 

Washington,  D "C.,  August  15th,  1871. 

A,  J.  Pleasonton,  Philadelphia,  Penn. 

Your  letter  of  the  14th  inst.,  relative  to  your  invitation  to  the 
examiner  in  charge  of  the  Agricultural  class  of  this  office  to  call. 
u])on  you  to  witness  the  influence  of  the  “ blue  colour  of  the  sky  ” 
i n developing  animal  and  vegetable  life,  is  received. 

In  reply  you  are  informed  that  Prof.  Brainerd  is  at  present  con- 
fined to  his  room  by  sickness,  but  a leave  will  be  given  him  for  the 
purpose  of  accepting  your  invitation,  as  soon  as  he  is  able  to  travel. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

M.  D.  LEGGETT, 

Commissioner. 


C2 

[X.] 

Department  of  the  Interior,  \ 
Datent  Office.  J 

Washinoton,  D.  C.,  August  19th,  1S71. 

Dear  Sir: 

I have  so  far  recovered  from  my  late  illness  as  to  he  able  to  pay 
you  a visit  in  compliance  with  your  invitation,  for  the  purpose  nf 
examining  your  improvement  in  the  construction  of  conservatories. 

I purpose  to  leave  tliis  city  on  the  8 A.  M.  train  on  Tuesday, 
and  shall  therefore  be  due  at  Philadelphia  at  1 P.  M. 

Respectfully, 

J.  BRAINERD, 

Examiner. 

Gen.  a.  j.  Pleasonton,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 


[XI] 

Department  of  the  Interior,  1 
Patent  Office.  j 

■Washington,  D.  C.,  September  Gth,  1871. 
Dear  General  ; ^ 

Your  drawing  arrived  this  morning,  and  the  patent  will  now  go 
to  issue,  but  will  take  the  usual  time. 

The  Commissioner  yesterday  introduced  General  Babcock,  who 
is  Superintendant  of  .Public  Grounds,  and  Consulting  Engineer 
of  the  Board  of  Public  Works.  T^ie  object  of  his  call  was  to  learn 
particulars  in  regard  to  your  eerufean  process.  I had  a pleasant 
interview  with  him,  at  the  close  of  which  he  desired  me  to  write 
to  you,  asking  the  privilege  of  using  your  invention  upon  a 
grapery  which  bo  is  now  fitting  up  on  the  President’s  grounds.^ 
An  answer  directed  to  the  care  of  myself  or  Commissioner  ot 
Patents,  will  reach  him  promptly.  ****** 

Respectfully, 

General  A.  J.  Pleasonton.  J.  BRAINERD. 


[XII.] 

Paris,  September  29th,  1871. 

General  Pleasonton, 

Dear  Sir:— I have  just  received  and  read  with  great  pleasure, 
vour  very  interesting  paper  from  the  Gardener's  Monthly,  ot  August 
last,  concerning  your  experiments  on  the  action  of  coloux-cd  light 
cn  plants  and  animals.  You  will  find  in  the  “Report  of  tne 


33 


Department  of  Agriculture,”  at  'Washington,  for  1869.  a ^'e  v 1 ’-g 
report  of  mine  “on  the  influence  of  climalogie  agents,  atnioreiiej  ; 
and  terrestrial,  upon  agriculture,”  where,  in  the  chav-bers  of  light 
and  electricity,  I • have  treated  fully  all  these  questions  with  x 
great  number  of . experiments  aiid  quotations  of  authors.  At 
that  time  I had  no  idea  of  any  of  your  publications,  although  [ 
had  formed  a bibliogranhj'  on  that  subject  of  1326  arlicles  in 
every  language.  I am  preparing  a work  iii  French  and  English 
on  Agricultural  Meteorology,  and  I should  be  most  happy  o 
mention  in  it  your  experiments,  and  to- receive  all  that  you  have 
published.  My  name  may  be  known  to  you  through  my  papers 
on  Meteorology  at  the  French  Academy  and  in  America.  I was 
the  founder  and  director  of  the  observatory  at  Havana  until  tlm., 
beginning  of  our  war,  being  now  a victim  of  my  patriotism.  [ 
correspond  with  several  journals  of  the  United  States,  as  the 
American  Agriculturist,  the  Rural  Neio  Yorker,  etc.,  etc.  ^ ^ < 

ifi  iii  ii:  ^i  ^ 


I remain,  General,  your  most  obedient  servant, 


51  Kuo  Mazarine,  Hotel  Mazarin. 


ANDRE  POE'r. 


[XIII.] 

Paris,  JYovemher  10th,  1S71, 

GENEKAtt  A.  J.  PlEASONTOX. 

Dear  Sir: — Your  most  affectionate  of  October  lOtli,  is  at  hand, 
with  seven  copies  of  your  interesting  pamphlet.  After  a very 
careful  study  of  that  paper,  I should  advish  you  strongly  to  pursue 
3’our  exijeriments  on  the  i.-fluence  of  colouired  lights  on  vegetable 
and  animal  life.  There  are  still  a great  manj'  points  to  be  resolved, 
and,  unfortunately,  this  important  question  has  been  totally 
abandoned  in  our  days.  Should  you  publish  anything  else,  pray 
do  not  forget  me.  I shall  be  very  happy  to  quote  all  your  experi- 
ments in  my  works.  At  the  next  sitting  of  the  French  Academy, 
I shall  also  endeavor  to  have  a little  extract  of  your  pamphfefc 
inserted  in  ti.o  Coniptes  liendus  of  that  Institution,  with'  a copy 
presented  in  your  name,  and  also  to  M.  Bocquerel,  M.  Duebartro, 
the  Meteorological  Society,  etc.  I am  waiting  for  the  return  of 
one  of  its  perpetual  Secretaries,  M.  Elie  do  Beaumont.  ' I shail 
have  the  pleasuro^to  send  you  whatever  may  be  published  on  your 
experiments.  I have  sent  another  copy  to  tho  Meteorological 
Society  of  Yienna,  very  much  interested  in  the  study  of  periodical 
phenomena,  treated  in  ray  second  report  to  tho  Department  of 
Agriculture.  ^****«*=i: 

I remain,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

ANDRfc  POEY. 


54  Rue  Mazarin,  Hotel  Mazarin. 


34 


[XIT.] 

Paris,  November  2Jtth,  1S71. 

General  A.  J.  PriEASONTON. 

Dear  Sir: — As  I had  promised  you  T enclose  tho  little  extract 
presented  to  the  French  Academy  of  Science,  Monday  last,  and 
■which  will  appear  to-morrow  in  tho  Comptes  Jlendus.  I took  par- 
ticular pains  to  write  a condensed  letter,  giving  the  most  sG'ikmg 
facts,  to  the  perpetual  Secretary,  the  great  Geologist,  M.  Ehe  de 
Beaumont,  who  was  very  much,  interested  in  your  experiments. 
A copy  was  also  presented  to  tho  Academy,  Becquerel  Jiathor, 
DuchaVtre,  and  Barral,  the  editor  of  the  Practical  Journal  of  Agri- 
culture^ Avho  will  reprint  it  in  that  paper.  At  the  same  time  dif- 
ferent scientific  and  political  papers  whl  make  some  mention  of  it. 
I shall  send  next  Aveek  the  translation  of  my  letter  to  the  excel- 
lent Emrlish  journal  called  Nature ; so  your  experiments  and  name 
Avill  be,  in  short,  spread  through  tho  scientific  Avoild  in  Europe. 

:|C  * * * * 

I remain,  General,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

ANDIlil  POEY. 

54  Rue  Mazarin,  Hotel  Mazarin. 


[From  Rev.  Henry  A. 


[XY.] 

Boardman,  Pastor  Tenth  Presbyterian  Church, 
Philadelphia. 1 


My  Dear  General  : , „ i 

I thank  you  for  your  generous  supply  of  tae  Memoir,  and  not 

less  for  the  very  kind  terms  of  your  note.  , . ^ 7. . , , „ 

Once  before  in  our  national  history  tho  subject  of  Blue  Light 
has  caused  a great  commotion.  There  will  bo  a greater  still  before 
I'ono-,  and  in  a somewhat  more  beneficent  direction.  I heartily 
congratulate  you  on  tho  just  fame  Avhich  is  already  assured  to  you 

as  the  reward  of  your  great  discovery. 

1 shall  place  tho  pamphlets  whore  they  will  by  appreciated. 

Ycry  sincerely  yours, 

H.  A.  BOARDMAN, 

May  1st,  1872.  1311  Spruce  Street. 


[XYL] 


\_From  the  same.'] 

1311  Spruce  Sr.,  June  1st,  1872. 

My  Dear  General  : 

“ Laudari  a viro  laudato," — to  bo  praised  by  a man  ivho  is  him- 
self praised,— the  Latins  used  to  think  was  a very  nice  thing.''  So 


35 


I take  great  pleasure  in  enclosing  a letter  from  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Sprague,  for  forty  years  a pastor  at  Albany,  one  of  the  roost  ac- 
complished and  revered  clergymen  of  our  church  or  country,  and 
enjoying  a high  European  reputation.  You  will  see  what  estimate 
he  puts  upon  your  great  discovery,  and  hd-w  he  prizes  your 
autograph.  For  I took  the  liberty  of  sending  him  your  kind  note 
to  me,  for  his  fe,mous  autographic  collection — the  largest  (some 
200,000  specimens,  I believe,)  and  finest  in  America. 

I enclose,  also,  a note  from  Mr.  Alex.  Brown,  Nineteenth  and 
TTalnut,  to  whom  I gave  the  Memoir.  I know  it  will  gratify  you. 
With  sincere  regard, 

I am,  dear  General,  yours, 

H.  A.  BOARDMAN. 

design  these  two  autographs  for  your  collection,  so  you 
will  not  return  them. 


[XVII.] 

[iVom  Alexander  Brown,  Esq.,  Banker,  &c,'\ 

PnmADELPniA,  May  80th,  1872. 

Eev.  H.  a.  Boardman. 

Dear  Sir  : — I thank  you  for  the  copy  of  Gen.  Pleasonton’s  ad- 
dress before  the  “ Philadelphia  Agricultural  Society.” 

I have  read  it  with  great  interest,  and  think  that  the  successful 
result  of  his  experiments  of  the  blue  colour  on  animal  and  vegeta- 
ble life  must  carry  conviction  to  every  mind. 

Very  respectfully,  yours,' 

ALEX.  BROWN. 


[XVIII.] 

[From  the  Rev.  Dr.  W.  B.  Sprague,  an  eminent  divine  of  Albany, 

New  Vor^.] 

Flushing,  May  80,  1872. 

My  Dear  Dr.  Boadman.  '' 

Since  I wrote  j'ou  yesterday,  (I  believe  misdating  my  letter.) 
I'have  read  the  pamphlet  you  kindly  sent  me,  with  astonishment 
and  admu’atidn,  1 am  not  chemist  enough  to  pronounce  upon 
every  part  of  it,  but  it  seems  to  me  that  the  man  who  could  have 
written  it  is  destined  to  be  a great  benefactor  to  the  world  ; I do 
not  seewhy  .it  should  not  mark  the  introduction  of  a.  new  and 
better  era.  I shall  lay  it  away,  with  the  author’s  autograph,  as 
containing  everything  conceiming  him  that  I should  desire. 

With  much  love,  as  ever,  yours, 

W.  B.  SPRAGUE. 


33 


[XIX.] 

[From  H.  ui.  Foardman."] 

1811  Si’KTJCE  St.,  Oct.  10th. 

1'>EAR  General  : 

Wc  firo  all  prepared  to  testify  that  the  Hue  glass  grapes  are  in 
size,  color  and  liavor  of  the  very  choicest.  If  there  bo  gainsaycrs 
send  ihom  to  us.  Wo  give  you  many  thanks  for  so  generous  a 
sample  of  your  crop.  And  what  too  ! 

The  fresh  testimonies  you  recite  are  very  remarkable — a fiir- 
iiicr  presage  of  the  certain  and  cai’ly  attention  which  will  soon 
be  given  to  this  whole  subject,  by  mlm  of  science..  I regret  that  I 
am  compelled  to  send  this  bare  acknowledgment  of  your  es- 
tremoly  interesting  letter.  - 

I am,  very  truly  yours, 

ir.  A‘.  ]30AHd:iian. 


[XX.] 

[From  Lieut.  Col.  Charles  Manly,  Loyal  Volunteer  'Engineer'  StaL 

Corps,  England.'] 

CO  Westbourne  Terrace,  Hyde  Park. 

'hoi^i'Don,  March  23d,  1S72, 

Nt  Pear  General: 

Pr;'  e accej)fmy  thanks  for  your  kind  letter  of  6th  inst.,  and  tor 
Ihc  six  copies  of  your  most  interesting  paper,  which  I sliall  .dis- 
t vibntc  to  the  persons  most  capable  of  comprehending  it,  and  of 
repeat! og  the  experiments  hoi’O;  , 

1 am  grieved  to  say  that  my  dear  old  friend  A.  H.,  cf 
t'openliaaen,  for  whom  I ventured  to'  ask  you  to' send  mo  your 
paper,  has  died  in  the  interval,  and  ho  never  I’ceeived  your  paper, 
nor  tim  copies  of  tho  Comptes  Jiendus  de  V Academje  de  Sciences  do 
Paris,  trpa  Ung  of  tho  subject,  of  which  I procured  him  exomplaires. 
liis  son  will,  I hope,  keep  up  his  Horticultural  Experiments  and 
when  I next  go  to  Denmark  I will  tell  you  whether  any  experimento 
hayo  bcen.tricd  of  your  sj^stem.  I have  many  friends  who  will,  1 
think,  try  tho  system,  and  if  you  dc.siro  to  make  it  known,  s<nvl 
5316  Boruo  iTioro  copies  and  they  shall  bo  'svoll  placed  aniong  i * 
cutial  ]3orHot)s.  I am  a member  of  tho  ITorticnltiiral  and  tho 
Botanical  Societies  of  London,  and  in  my  capacity  of  Honorary 
Seerotar^^  of  tho  Institution  of  Civil  Engineers  of  England,  1 am 
in  communication  with  scientific  men,  so  I can  make  your  system 
well  known  to  everybody.  It  is  most  interesting  as  an^ investiga- 
tion, and  I will  try  and  get  it  tried  in  every  way.  ^ 

Believe  me,  my  dear  General,  yours  sincerely, 

CHAELE3  MAXBY. 


37 


[XXL] 

l^Frpm.  J.  T.  Alden,  of  Newport,  Kentucky.'] 

Newpoet,  KENTUCKYj.Jfay  26th,  1872. 
General  A.  J.  Pleasonton,  Philadelphia. 

Pear  Sir  : — Tour  esteemed  favor  of  2-Sd  inst.,  "vrith  pamphlets,  at 
hand,  for  Avhieh  please  accept  my  sincere  thanks. 

1 read  your  treatise  "with  absorbing  interest  and  satisfaction,  and 
vras  amazed  at  the  •wonderful  discoveries  evolved  by  your  critical 
observations  and  the  scientific  deductions  and  logical  conclusions, 
and  still  moi*o  -astounded  by  their  gi-and  and  overwhelming 
demonstrations. 

Your  mind  and  vision  have  penetrated  into  the  labyrinth  of  the 
*' imponderable  ” deep  of  nature,  and  eliminated  from  her  secret/ 
chambers  great  practical  truths  that  hitherto  have  been  buried 
ii;  an  abyss  too  profound  for  even  man’s  comprehension.  My  dear 
sir,  I do  most  sincerely  congratulate  j’ou  as  the  author  of  a dis- 
covery ranking  in  great  practical  value  with  those  of  Morse, 
Iv'ewton,  Fulton  and  Watt.  I cannot  feel  you  will  soon  be 
adequately  rewarded,  because  truths  like  these  are  too  abstruse  for 
immediate  apprehension  by  the  common  mind.  But  time  will 
reduce  j’our  grand  theory  (no  longer  theory  in  your  hands,)  to 
practice,  and  not  until  then  will  your  great  efforts, be  duly  appre- 
ciated. 

1 bow  in  deep  grateful  devotion  to  you,  as  the  chosen  instru- 
ment of  God  in  communicating  this  valuable  knowledge  to  man- 
kind j and  may  it  be  your  happiness,  as  of  Morse,  to  see  its  adoption 
by  your  follow-creatures  throughout  the  civilized  world,  as  well  as 
like  him  to  reap  the  full  fruition  of  its  honors  and  fruits.  And  if 
you  arc  not  deluged  •with  letters,  I would  like,  to  ask  if  theso 
principles  may  be  applied  in  a more  humble'  way  than  your 
demonstration  exhibits  ? Can  they  be  made  subseiVient  to  the 
produ'  ’ ion  of  early  vegetables  by  tlio  ordinary  hot  bed  cuhivro.jon  ? 
Have  you  experimented  “ on  this  line,”  or  has  any  one  under  your 
instruetiop  ? If  two  or  three  weeks  can  be  anticipated  over  the 
hot  bed  culture  now  so  common,  it  would  equal  400  miles  of  lati- 
tude in  ii  fliience  and  results.  On  this  point,  if  consistent  with 
your  time  and  convenience,  I should  be  highly  gratified  to  hear 
fr'-)in  you,  stating  any  knowledge  in  your  possession  of  results  or 
discoveries  in  this  line  of  industries. 

With  considerations  of  profound  respect,  I am,  dear  sir, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

J.  T.  ALDEN. 

I will  confer  -with  you  touching  the  area  of  territory  desired 
hereafter. 


D8  - 

[XXIL] 

[From  Dr.  John  C.  Brown,  late  Professor  of  Botany  in  the  So\ah 
African  College,  Cape  Town,  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  Africa.'] 

Philadelphia,  3405  Baring  Street,  ] ■ 
16th  October,  1873.  , j 

Sir: — I have  tried  to  procure  a copy  of  your  valuable  treatise 
on  blue  light  us  an  organic  eliinulant,  but  have  failed.  May  I aslc 
you  where  I can  procure  a copy  ? May  1 ask  if  you  have  collected 
any  information  on  the  climatic  effects  which  have  followed  the 
extensive  destruction  of  forests  in  America,  and  if  you  can  inform 
me  where  I may  procure  information  on  this  point?  I have  just 
enmplcted  the  tour  of  the  forest  districts  of  central  and  northern 
Europe,' collecting  information  for  the  use  of  the  Government  at 
t he  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  and  having  come  to  the  Conference  of  the 
Evangelical  Alliance,  I am  desirous  of  such  information,  and  I 
shall  feel  greatly  obliged  if  you  can  supply  it.  I leave  for  Pitts- 
burgh on  Monday.  Address  me  to  the  care  of  Kev.  0.  Eastm.a.v, 
311  West  Twenty-Ninth  Street,  New  ^ orlc. 

My  permanent  address  is,  Eev.  D.  Brown,  Borwick-on-Tweed, 
England. 

I am,  sir,  respectfully  yours, 

JOHN  C.  BEOWN,  LL.  D.,  P.  E.  G.  S.,  F.  L.  S.,  &o. 

Late  Professor  of  Botany  in  the  South  African  College,  Cape, 
Town. 

To  General  Pleasonton. 


I 


Mr.  President  and  Gentlemen  of  the 

(Philadelphia  Society  for  Promoting  Agriculture : 

It  is  now  more  than  three  years  since  I had  the  honour  lo 
read  before  you  my  memoir  “ on  the  influence  of  the  blue 
colour  of  the  sky  in  developing  animal  and  vegetable  life,  as 
illustrated  by  certain  experiments  I had  mstituted  and 
continued  between  the  years  1861  and  1871.” 

The  subject  was  so  entirely  novel,  and  the  results  of  the  ex- 
periments were  so  surprising,  that  men  were  lost  in  amaze- 
ment wl^n  they  conternplated  the  facts  as  they  were  narrated, 
an*d  began  to  conjecture  the  bearing  that  these  facts  were 
destined  to  have  upon  the  comfort,  the  health  and  the 
prosperity  of  mankind. 

As  a knowledge  of  the  experiments  and  the  conclusions 
deduced  from  them  became  diffused,  various  criticisms  appeared 
in  many  journals,  some  of  which  were  humorous,  and  intended 
to  be  facetious;  others  treated  the  subject  with  grave  dignity, 
not  knowing  exactly  w'hat  to  make  of  it;  while  others,  again, 
grasping  it  in  its  important  relations,  as  by  intuition,  welcomed 
it  as  a long  step  in  advance  in  the  knowledge  of  the  great 
truths  in  physics  ■which  mankind  • are  so  anxious  to  acquire. 
All  this  was  perfectly  natural.  ' The  little  knowledge  which 
men  have  has  been  acqiiired  by  great  labour,  industry,  priva- 
tion, and  perhaps  through  a long  course  of  arduous  study. 
They  are,  therefore,  loath  to  abandon  preconceived  notions 
upon  any  subject  It  would  be  a loss  of  so  much  mental 
capital.  A new  idea,  therefore,  upon  any  familiar  subject 
naturally  excites  doubt,  and  is  met  with  disapproval  until,  by 
a free  and  full  discussion,  its  merits  are  understood,  when,  if  it 
is  established  by  facts  and  conclusive  reasoning  upon  them,  it 
is  accepted  as  sound,  though  it  may  displace  all  preexisting 
notions  in  opposition  to  it. 

Such  has  been  the  history  of  the  publication  of  my  memoir, 
and  of  the  wonderful  discovery  that  it  describes.  I proceed 
now  to  communicate  to  you  some  facts  in  connection  with  this 
subject,  which  are  very  curious,  instructive  and  important. 


*2 


It  may  be  remembered  that  m the  month  of  May,  1871,  a 
great  hailstorm  visited , this  city  and  neighbourhood,  and 
inflicted  immense  damage  among  gardens,  green  houses,  &c. 
Among  the  sufferers  was  Mr.  Robert  Buist,  Sr.,  in  his  extensive 
glass  houses,  near  Darby,  in  some  of  which  nearly  all  of  the 
glass  was  broken.  The  damage  was  promptly  repaired,  and 
the  houses  reglazed  as  before,  with  colourless  glass.  After 
which,  my  memoir  on  the  influence  of  the  blue  colour  of  the 
sky,  &c,,  Avhich  had  been  readbefore.your  society  in  the  begin- 
ning of  May,  of  that  year,  was  printed  and  published.  It  was 
then  too  late  for  Mr.  Buist  to  introduce  blue  glass  into  his 
forcing  houses — but  fully  informed  of  the  results  of  my  experi- 
ments he . adopted  an  expedient,  which  differing  somewhat 
from  my  experiments  conflrras  the  conclusions  thereon  to 
which  I had  arrived,  and  which  will  prove  a valuable  addition 
to  ouf  appliances  in  horticulture. 

xVIr.  Buist  had  at  this  time  a very  large  and  valuable 
collection  of  geraniums  which  had  become  diseased ; some  of 
them  had  died,  others  were  feeble,  losing  their  leaves  and 
flowers,  and  'others  again,  though  blooming,  were  sensibly 
being  deprived  of  the  brilliant  tints  of  colour  which  char- 
acterized their  several  yarieties.  . • 

It  occurred  to  Mr.  Buist  that  if  he  should  paint  with  a ligU  blue 
colour  the  inside  siu'face  of  each  pane  of  glass  in  one  of  diis 
houses,  leaving  a margin  of  an  inch  and  a quarter  in  width  of  • 
the  glass  in  its  uncoloured  condition  all  around  the  painted 
surface  on  each  of  the  panes  of  glass,  and  then  place  his 
Sickly  geranium  plants  in  the  house  under  this  glass  so 
paintedj'  the  vigour  of  his  plants  might  be  restored.  . 

The  experiment  was  made,  and  was  successful.  The  plants 
began  to  revive  soon  after  they  had  been  placed  in  this  house. 
In  two  days  thereafter  they  began  to  put  forth  new  leaves,  and 
at  the  end  of  ten  days  their  vigour  was  not  merely  restored,  but 
Mr.  Buist  assured  me  that  the  plants  he  had  thus  treated  were 
more  healthy  and  vigourous  than  he  had  ever  seen  similar 
plants  of  the  same  varieties  to  have  been.  Their  colours  were 
not  only  restored  but  their  tints  were  intensified. 

During  the  summer  of  1871,  Mr.  Dreer,  one  of  our  most 
successful  horticulturists,  called  my  attention  to  another  con- 
firmation of  my  theory,  which  had  just  come  to  his  notice.  It 
was  as  follows,  viz. ; 


3 


A professional  gardener  in  Massachusetts  (near  Boston)  had 
been  trying  for  several  j’ears  to  protect  his  young  plants,  as 
they  were  germinating,  from  various  minute  insects  which  fed 
upon  them,  sometimes  as  soon  as  they  were  formed.  For  this 
purpose  he  adopted  nearly  every  expedient  of  which  he  had 
any  knowledge,  and.  even  used  the  primary  rays  of  sunlight 
separately.  Clothing  succeeded,  however,  in  these  experiments 
but  the  blue  ray,  which  proved  itself  to  be  a perfect  protec- 
tion against  the  attacks  of  these  insects.  He  made  a small 
triangular  frame,  similar  in  form  to  a soldier's  tent,  covered  it 
with  blue  gauze,  such  as  ladies  use  for  their  veils.  Having 
prepared  a piece  of  ground,  he  sowed  his  seed  in  it,  and,,, 
covering  a portion  of  the  ground  thus  prepared  with  his  little 
blue  frame  and  gauze,  he  left  the  other  parts  exposed  to  the 
attacks  of  the  insects.  His.  plants  outside  of  this  frame  were 
all  eaten  by  the  insects,  as  soon  as  they  germinated,  while 
those  under  it  escaped  entirely  from  their  depredations.  This 
experiment  was  tried  many  times,  and  always  with  similar 
results. 

This  gardener  had  written  an  account  of  his  experiments  to 
Mr.  Freer,  and  had  forwarded  to  him  one  of  his  small  blue, 
gauze  frames,  in  order  to  its  introduction  here  to  the  attention 
of  our  gardeners.  This  was  shown  to  me  by  ^Er.  Freer,  with, 
the  gardener’s  account  of  his  experiments  with  it. 

The  explanation  of  this  phenomenon,  I think,  is  this, 
Tlie  sunlight  negatively  electrified  in  passing  through  the 
meshes  of  the  blue  gauze  of  the  frame,  which  is  positively 
electrified,  excites  an  electro-magnetic  current  sufficiently 
strong  to  destroy  the  feeble  vitality  of  the  eggg  or  of  the  insects 
themselves,  which  are  in  the  soil  with  the  seed,  lea%dng  the 
seed  to  germinate  more  rapidly  under  its  influence.  One 
remarkable  circumstance  in*  these  experiments  was  that  the 
combination  of  sunlight  with  blue  light,  while  it  destroyed 
these  noxious  insects  injurious  to  vegetation,  at  the  same 
time  stimulated  the  development  of  the  gr'owth  of  the  plants 
it  had  preserved. 

Having  introduced  blue  glass  into  the  windows  of  the  sleep- 
ing apartments  of  my  servants  in  one  of  my  country  houses,  it 
was  observed  that  large  numbers  of  flies,  that  had  previously 
infested  them.,  were  dead  soon  after  its  introduction,  on  the 
inside  sills  of  the  windows.  This  effect  seemed  to  be  pro- 
duced by  alike  cause  to  that  on  the  insects  injurious  to  vege- 


i 


tation  as  described  by  the  gardener  of  Massachusetts  iii  Ins 
experiments.  Various  experiments  have  been  made  in  several 
parts  of  this  country  as  well  as  in  Europe,  with  this  associated 
fio-ht,  in  developing  vegetable  life  according  to  my  suggestions 
and  with  results  corresponding  to  those  that  I have  obtained. 
A lady  of  my  acquaintance,  residing  in  this  city,  informed  mo 
that  having  some  very  choice  and  rare  flowering  pli^V^s 
in  her  sitting  room,  which  were  drooping  and  manifesting  signs 
of  disease,  she  threw  over  them’  a blue  gauze  veil,  such  as 
ladies  wear,  and  exposed  them  to  the  sunlight,  when -she  was 
highly  gratified  to  discover  that  in  a very  short  time  they  were 
fuUy  restored  to  health  and  vigour. 


A o-entleman  in  TTest  Philadelphia  having  a large  lemon- 
tree,  which  he  prized  highly,  placed  it  in  his  hall  near  to  the 
vestibule  door,  the  side  lights  of  which  were  ot  glass  of 
ent  colours,  blue  and  violet  predominating;  the  sunlight 
passing  through  these  side  lights  fell  upon  a portion  of  the, 
branches  of  this  lemon  tree ; great  vigour  was  imparted  thereby 
to  the  vitality  of  these  branches,  which  were  filled  with  very 
fine  lemons,  while  the  other  branches  of  the  tree  that  did  no  1 
•receive  the  light  from  these  blue  and  violet  panes  ot  glass, 
were  small,  feeble  and  apparently  unhealthy,  and  were  without 

fruit. 


It  will  be  remembered  that  during  our  late  civil  war, 
when  commercial  intercourse  between  the  Northern  and 
Southern -States  had  ceased,  the  sale  of  early  fruits  and.  vegeta- 
bles in  the  markets  of  the  principal  northern  cities,  was 
monopolized  by  their  producers  in  the  states  of  Nevv  Jersey 
and  Delaware,  and  on  the  eastern  shore  of  Maryland  This 
was  a very  valuable  trade,  and  enriched  many  of  those 
enc^aged  in  it.  The  price  of  land  in  these  regions  became 
enhanced  in  value,  and  the  people  resident  there  enjoyed 
. unusual  prosperity.  On  the  restoration  ot  peace  all  this  was 
changed;  the  people  along  the  Atlantic  sl<^e  of  Virginia, 
North  and  South  Carolina  and  of  a part  of  G-eorgia,  at  once 
entered  upon  the  cultivation  of  fruits  and  vegetables  for  the 
northern  cities,  and  owing  to  their  lower  latitudes  and  earlier 
• seasons,  aud  improved  modes  of  cultivation,  they  have  secured 
their  lost  markets,  and  are  now  rapidly  recovering  from  the 
efiects  of  the  war.  All  this,  of  course,  is  a corresponding  loss 
to  the  farmers  of  New  Jersey,  De-laware  and  the  eastern  shore 
of  Maryland,  and  as  a consequence  the  value  of  farming  lands 
in  these  sections  has  been  sensibly  depreciated.  A large  por- 


tion  of  this  trade  can  be  recovered  by  tbe  application  of  mv 
discovery  to  the  cultivation  of  vegetables  and  fruits,  and  their 
maturity  can  be  hastened  so  as  to  equal  that  of  those  of  the 
Southern  States  herein  referred  to. 

The  early  vegetables  used  in  my  family  are,  for  the  most 
part,  started  in  pots  under  blue  and  plain  glass,  then  trans- 
planted into  proper  soil,  and  are  ready  for  use  several  weeks 
before  I could  otherwise  obtain  them.  As  an  illustration, 'we 
have  been  using  on  my  table  since  July  12tli,  of  this  year, 
Stowell’s  evergreen  sugar  corn,  grown  in  this  way,  while  I am 
informed  that  it  is  one  of  the  latest  in  the  season  to  mature ; 
it  will  be  at  least  two  weeks  later  than  now,  August  10th. 
before  any  of  it  grown  otherwise  in  the  ordinary  course  of 
growth  will  be  ready  for  use.* 

As  it  is  only  the  very  early  and  very  late  vegetables  and 
fruits  that  remunerate  the  grower,  while  the  abundance  of 
the_  regular  crops  reduces  the  prices  oftentimes  below  cost, 
it  is  truly  the  interest  of  all  persons  engaged  in  furnishing 
such  foods  to  mankind,  to  produce  them  and  sell  them  when 
the  prices  are  highest,  v^z.,  at  the  beginning  and  end  of  their 
seasons. 

Cotton  and  tobacco,  in  the  Middle  States,  can  be  raised  and 
matured  according  to  this  process,  so  as  to  avoid  entirely  the 
September  frosts,  and  to  compete  in  yield  and  quality  with 
any  of  the  cottons  grown  in  the  Southern  States,  unless  it  may 
be  the  Sea  Island  cotton.  I have  myself  raised  and  rnatured 
cotton  plants  on  my  lawn  in  this  city,  year  after  year,  which 
produced  as  fine  and  large  bolls  as  I have  ever  seen  in  Carolina 
or  Georgia,  and  this  without  tlie  use  of  blue,  glass,  and  before 
I had  made  my  discovery  of  its  wonderful  influence  on  vegeta- 
tion. 

A machine  has  been  invented  and  patented  at  Washington 
City,  by  which  a man,  with  it  and  a mule,  can  set  out  in  a day 
growing  cotton  plants  which  would  cover  an  immense  area  of 
land.  Now  if  these  plants  are  started  according  to  my  direc- 
tions, under  these  glasses,  and  then  transplanted  into  suitable 
soil  after  the  spring  frosts  are  over,  the  heat  and  moisture 
of  the  summer  in  the  Middle  States,  w'hich  probably  are  in 
excess  of  those  of  the  Southern  States  at  that  season,  will 
rapidly  ensure  the  maturity  of  the  plants ; and  crops  can  be  thus 
raised  which  will  compete  favorably  with  those  of  any  other 


, * The  above  was  written  in  1874. 


0 


section  of  the  country.  This  same  principle  of  hastening  the 
maturity  of  plants,  applies  with  still  greater  force  to  higher 
latitudes  where  the  seasons  of  growth  are  necessarily  short. 

Tt  is  estimated  that  people  residing  six  or  eight  degrees  of 
latitude  farther  north  than  the  present  latitude  of  cultivation 
of  various  plants,  may  he  enabled  to  enjoy  many  plants  and 
fruits  of  which  they  are  now  deprived,  by  the  introduction  of 
the  process  of  development  that  I 'have  herein  sketched. 

W^hat  boundless  blessings  may  not  be  obtained  in  this  man- 
ner for  the  populations  of  E’orthern  Germany,  Southern  Russia, 
of  Scandinavia,  Northern  China  and  even  the  Steppes  of 
Tartary,  and  some  parts  of  Siberia  which  may  be  brought 
within  the  influence  of  this  wonderful  power,  and  thus,  by 
increasing  the  comforts  of  life,  hasten  the  progress  of  their 
civilization.  So  much  for  vegetation  and  what  may  be  done 
with  it.  We  will  now  invite  your  attention  to  the  stimulating 
influence  exerted  by  this  associated  blue  and  sunlight  upon 
animal  life. 

An  esteemed  friend  of  mine,  of  high  character.  Commodore 
J.  R.  Goldsboi’ough,  of  the  United  States  Navy,  liaving  been 
assigned  to  tlie  command  of  one  of  our  western  naval  stations 
in  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1871,  caused  some  experiments  to 
Re  made  with  the  associated  blue  light  of  the  firmament,  and 
sunlight,  and  subsequently  addressed  to  me  a letter,  of  which 
the  following  is  a copy,  viz ; 

Mound  City,  Illinois,  May  31st,  1872. 
To  General  A.  J.  Pleasonton,  Fhiladelphia,  Penn’a. 

General  : — Presuming  that  it  would  be  agreeable  to  you  to 
luarn  the  results  of  some  experiments  that  I caused  to  be 
made,  after  having  read  the  pamphlet  you  did  me  the  honor 
to  place  in  my  hand,  “ On  the  Influence  of  the  Blue  Color  of  the 
Sky,  in  Developing  Animal  and  Vegetable  Life,”  I proceed  to 
detail  them  to  you  : The  first  experiment  was  made  here  by  the 
Surgeon  of  this  station,  who,  having  had  every  alternate  pane 
of  uncoloured  glass  removed  from  each  of  two  windows  in  his 
parlour,  and  having  substituted  for  them  corresponding  panes 
of  blue  glass,  proceeded  to  place  a number  of  plants  and  vines 
of  many  varieties,  in  pots,  in  the  room  so  as  to  receive  the 
associated  light  of  the  sun  and  the  blue  light  of  the  firmament 
■upon  them. 


7 


In  a very  short  time  the  plants  and  vines  began  to  manifest 
the  effects  of  the  remarkable  influences  to  which  they  had 
been  subjected.  Their  growth  was  rapid  and  extraordinary., 
indicating  unusual  vigour,  and  increasing  in  the  length  of 
their  branches  from  an  inch  and  a half  to  three  inches,  accord- 
ing to  their  species,  every  twenty-four  hours,  as  by  measure- 
ment. 

The  second  experiment  was  made  in  a comparison  of  the 
development  of  the  newly  hatched  chickens  of  two  broods  of 
the  same  variety.  In  each  of  these  two  broods  were  thirteen 
chickens,  all  of  which  were  hatched  on  the  same  day. 

Comfortable  but  separate  quarters  near  to  each  other  were 
assigned  to  the  two  broods,  with  their  respective  mothers,  on 
the  lawn ; one  of  the  coops,  containing  a hen  and  her  brood, 
was  partly  covered  with  blue  and  plain  glass  ; the  other'  coop, 
also  containing  a hen  and  her  brood,  did  not  difier  from  the 
coops  commonly  used  in  this  country. 

The  chickens  of  each  brood  were  fed  at  the  same  times 
and  with  equal  quantities  of  similar  food.  Those  under  the  blue 
glass  soon  began  to  display  the  effects  of  the  stimulating 
influence  of  the  associated  blue  and  sunlight  by  their  daily 
almost  visible  growth,  increase  of  strength  and  activity,  far 
exceeding  in . all  these  respects,  the  developments  of  the 
chickens  of  the  other  brood  which  were  exposed  to  the  ordi- 
nary atmospheric  influences. . 

I will  also  relate  to  you  what  I imagine  -to  be  another  re- 
markable circumstance  having  relation  to  this  subject. 

On  the  29th  of  January,  1872,  the  wife  of  one  of  the  gentle- 
men on  the  station  gave  birth  prematurely  to  a very  small 
child,  which  weighed  at  the- time  only  three  and  a half  pounds. 
It  was  very  feeble,  possessing  apparently  but  little  vitality. 
It  so  happened  that  the  wiitdows  of  the  room,  in  which  it  was 
born  and  reared,  were  draped  with  blue  curtains,  through 
which  and  the  plain  glass  of  the  windows,  the  sunlight  entered 
the  apartment.  The  lacteal  sj'stem  of  the  mother  was  greatly 
excited,  and  secreted  an  excessive  quantity  of  milk,  while  at 
the  same  time  the  appetite  of  the  child  for  food  was  greatly 
increased,  to  such  an  extent  indeed,  that  its  mother,  notwith- 
standing the  inordinate  flow  of  her  milk,  at  times  found  it 
difl3.cult  to  satisfy  its  hunger. 


8 


The  child  grew  rapidly  in  health,  strength  and  size ; and  on 
the  2&th  of  May,  1872,  just  four  months  after  its  birth,  when  1 
saw  it,  before  I left  Mound  City,  it  weighed  twenty-two 
pounds. 

Whether  this  extraordinary  result  was  the  effect  of  the 
associated  blue  and  sunlight,  passing  through  the  the  curtains 
and  glass  of  the  windows,  or  not,  I.do  not  profess  to  determine, 
but  I give  you  the  facts  of  the  case,  which  are  in  complete 
harmony  in  their  developments  with  the  results  of  the  exfieri- 
ments  bn  domestic  animals  that  you  yourself  have  made.  W ith 
great  regard, 

' I remain,  very  truly;  yours, 

JOHN  R.  GOLDSBOROXJGH. 

It  will  be  seen  from  this  statement  that  this  child  had  grown 
eighteen  pounds  and  a half  in  four  months,  or  four  and-  five- 
eighth  pounds  per  month,  -and  considering  its  apparently 
slight  hold  upon  life,  at  its  birth,  we  niay  unite  with  the 
Commodore  in  believing  it  to  be  “ a remarkable  circumstance.” 

On  the  15th  February  of  this  year,  1874,  two  newly  born 
lambs,  one  weighing  three  and  a half  pounds,  the  other  weigh- 
ing four  pounds,  were  taken  from  their  mothers  and  placed  in 
one  of  the  pens  on  my  farm  fitted  with  blue  and  uncoloured 
glass ; they  had  not  received  any  nourishment  from  their  dams, 
.they  were  fed  alike,  and  without  any  design  to  increase  largely 
' their  weight,  with  skimmed  cow’s  milk.  When  they  Avere  three 
months  old,  they  were  weighed — one  of  them  weighed  fitty- 
one  pounds,  the'  other  fifty-five  pounds — at  two  weeks  old 
their  teeth  were  so  much  developed  that  they  began  to  eat 
hay. 

The  flesh  of  lambs  is  deemed  to  be  a delicacy.  From  this 
experiment,  it  would  appear  that  in  three  months  from  birth 
two  lambs  have  gained  forty-seven  and  a half  and  fifty-one 
pounds  respectively,  which,  at  the  market  price  of  forty  cents  per 
pound,  would  yield  in  one  case  twenty  dollars  and  forty  cents, 
* and  in  the  other  twenty-two  dollars,  for  the  lambs  weighing 
respectively  fifty-one  and  fifty-five  pounds. 

Farmers  who  raise  domestic  animals  for  food  have  here  a 
very  simple  and  inexpensive  process  by  which  their  gains  may 
be  very  largely  increased. 


9 


A gentleman  of  my  acquaintance  having  a canary  bird  that 
had  been  a very  fine  singer,  vs^as  surprised  to  discover  that, 
without  any  apparent  cause,  the  bird  had  ceased  to  sing, 
refused  to  eat,  and  evidently  vras  in  a declining  state  of  health, 
and  it  was  feared  that  he  would  soon  die.  I recommended 
the  owner  to  try  the  effect  of  blue  and  sunlight  upon  the  bird. 
He  consented.  The  cage  was  removed  with  the  bird  to  the 
bathroom  of  the  owner’s  house,  whose  windows  contained  varie- 
gated glass,  blue  and  violet  in  excess.  The  cage,  with  its 
occupant,  was  suspended  so  that  the  sunlight  passing  through 
these  lights  might  fall  upon  the  cage.  The  bird  began  to 
recover  very  soon,  its  appetite  returned,  and  in  a little  while 
its  song,  which  its  owner  assured  me,  was  sweeter,  stronger 
and  more  spirited  then  he  had  previously  known  it  to  be. 

At  the  close  of  the  late  civil  war  in  this  country,  I bought  a 
pair  of  mules  that  had  been  used  in  the  military  service  of 
the  government.  A little  while  after  the  purchase  it  was  dis- 
covered that  one  of  them  was  completely  deaf,  having  had  his 
hearing'destroyed  by  the  noise  of  heavy  firing  during  the 
battles  in  which  he  had  been  employed.  Thereupon  I directed 
the  teamster  who  had  charge  of  him,  to  be  particularly  careful 
in  using  him,  and  to  treat  him  with  great  gentleness  and  kind- 
ness on  account  of  his  infirmity.  Two  or  three  years  after  he 
came  into  my  possession,  this  mule  was  seized  with  acute 
rheumatism  of  so  violent  a character  that  the  poor  animal 
could  not  walk.  Before  this  time  he,  with  other  animals,  had 
been  removed  to  a new  stable  that  I had  built,  in  which  he 
was  kept  for  several  months  without  being  used  for  work. 
He  gradually  got  better  of  his  rheumatism,  but  his  deafness 
continued  until  this  spring,  when  he  recovered  entirely  both 
from  his  deafness  and  rheumatism.  Over  each  of  the  doors  of 
this  stable  I had  caused  to  be  placed  a transom,  with  panes  of 
blue  and  colourless  glass  therein.  The  stall  of  this  mule  was 
before  a door  with  such  a transom  over  it.  'When  the 
the  sun  arose  in  the  morning,  he  cast  his  light  through  this 
transom  on  the  n.eck  and  top  of  the  head  of  thisnmle.  Before 
he  set  in  the  afternoon  he  threw  his  light  again  upon  the  head 
and  neck  of  this  mule,  through,  the  transom  of  another  door 
on  the  northwestern  side  of  the  stable;  the  eflect  of  this  light , 
upon  the  animal  has  been  the  cure  of  his  rheumatism,  and  the 
removal  of  his  deafness;  He  is  now  as  healthy  and  hearty  a 
mule  as  you  will  see  anywhere.  The  removal  of  this  deafness 
was  produced  by  an  electro-magnetic  current,  evolved  by  the 


10 


two  lights  upon  his  auditory  nerves  and  exciting  them  to 
healthy  action. 

These  last  two  incidents  just  mentioned,  serve  to  introduce 
the  subject  of  the  influence  of  the  associated  blue  and  sunlight 
upon  animal  health  and  particularly  upon  Human  Health. 

It  is  known  that  silk  is  one  of  the  most  important  staple 
products  of  Italy.  It  is  also  known  that  much  of  the  high 
prices  which  this  staple  product  hear  in  commerce,  is  due  to 
to  the  ditficulty  experienced  in  hatching  and  rearing  the  silk 
worms  which  produce  the  cocoons  or  halls  oh  which  they  wind 
the  silk  drawn  from  their  bodies.  To  hatch  the  eggs  of  the 
silk  wOrra,  an  even  temperature  of  a certain  degree  of  heat  is 
indispensable,  and  great  caa’e  in  feeding  and  keeping  them 
clean  is  required  after  the  worms  are  hatched. 

An  eminent'  Italian  chemist,  after  the  publication  of  the 
results  of  my  experiments  with  blue  light,  instituted  some 
experiments  in  the  rearing  of  the  silk  worms.  He  placed  a 
certain  number  of  the  eggs  that  produce  the  worms  under 
plain  glass,  of  which,  in  the  hatching  and  rearing,  60  per  cent, 
died.  He  then  placed  the  same  number  of  eggs  under  violet 
glass,  of  which  only  10  per  cent,  perished.  Had  he  used  blue 
glass  in  his  experiments  it  is  probable  that  the  loss  would  have 
teen  nearly  nominal.  As  the  rearing  of  silk  worms  for  the 
European  factories  has  become  an  important  industry  in  Cali- 
fornia, we  may  expect  great  success  will  follow  the  efforts  to 
raise  them,  when  the  stimulating  influence  of  blue  light  shall 
be  applied  properly. 

"While  we  are  considering  this  subject,  it  maybe  as  well  to 
allude  to  the  vitalizing  influence  of  the  associated  blue  and 
sunlight  of  this  discovery  in  the  cure  of  human  and,  other 
animal  diseases,  and  I may  mention  here  a most  extraordinary 
case  in  which  its  power  was  manifested. 

In  the  latter  part  of  August,  1871, 1 chanced  to  visit  a physi- 
cian of  this  city,  of  my  acquaintance,  whom'  I found  to  be  in 
great  distress,  and  plunged  in  the  lowest  despondency. 
On  inquiring  the  cause,  he  told  me  that  he  feared  that  he  was 
about  to  lose  his  wife,  who  was  suffering  from  a complication 
of  disorders  that  were  most  painful  and  distressing,  and  which 
had  baffled  the  skill  of  several  of  the  most  eminent  physicians 
here,  as  also  of  others  of  equal  distinction  in  New  York.  He 
then  stated  that  his  wife  was  suffering  great  pains  in  the  lower* 


'll 


part  of  her  back,  and  in  her  head  and  neck,  as  also  in  her 
lower  limbs;  that  she  could  not  sleep;  that  she  had  no  appetite 
for  food  and  was  rapidly  wasting-awav  in  flesh;  and  that  her  secre- 
tions were  all  abnormal.  I said  to  him,  “ Why  don’t  you  try 
blue  light  ? ” to  which  he  replied,  “ I have  thought  of  that,  but 
you  know  how  it  is  with  wives;  they  will  frequently  reject  the 
advice  of  a husband,  while  they  would  accept  it  if  offered  by 
any  one  else.  This  has  deterred  me  from  recommending 
blue  light,  but  I think  that  if  you  should  recommend  it  to  her 
she  will  adopt  it,  for  she  has  great  confidence  in  your  judg- 
ment.” I told  him  that  I would  most  certainly  recommend  it 
to  her.  Accordingly  we  went  up  to  her  sitting  room  in  the 
second  story  of  the  main  building,  having  a southern  expo- 
sure, the  hquie  being  on  the  southern  side  of  the  street.  We 
found  her  seated  at  an  open  window,  the  thermometer  up  in 
the  nineties ; she  was  looldng  very  miserable,  greatly  emaci- 
ated, sallow  in  complexion,  indicating  extrerne  ill  health,  and 
her  voice  very  feeble.  On  inquiring  of  her  relative  to  the 
state  of  her  health,  she  described  it  very  much  as  her  husband, 
the  doctor,  had  done.  When  I had  put  to  her  the  same  ques- 
tion I had  proposed  to  her  husband,  viz  : “ Why  don’t  you  try 
blue  light  ? ” “ Oh!”  she  replied,  ‘T have  tried  so  many  things, 
and  have  had  so  nmny  doctors  that  I am  out  of  conceit  of  all 
remedies;  none  of  them  have  done  me  any  good;  I don’t 
believe  that  anything  can  relieve  me.”  To  which  I remarked, 
xvonsense  ! you  have  many  years  of  life  yet  remaining,  and  if 
you  will  try  blue  light  you  will  live,  to  enjoy  them.”  To 
which  she  answered,  “Are  you  in  earnest?  Do  you  really 
think  that  blue  light  would  do  me  any  good  ? ” “ Certainly  !” 

I said,  “I  do,  or  I would  not  reconamend  it  to  you ; my  expe- 
rience with  it  fully  justifies  my  opinion.”  She  then  said  she 
would  try  it,  and  asked  me  how  it  should  be  applied.  I then 
told  her  and  her  husband  in  what  manner  the  application  of 
blue  light  iu  her  case  should  be  made,  and  how  often  and 
when  it  should  be  repeated^  and  they  both  promised  that  the 
trial  with  it  should  be  made  the  next  day. 

Six  days  after  this  interview  I received  a note  from  the 
doctor,  asking  me  to  send  him  some  copies  of  my  memoir  on 
blue  light,  &c.,  which  he  wished  to  forward  to  some  of  his 
distant  friends,  and  at  the  close  of  it  he  had  written  : “ You 
will  be  surprised  to  learn  that  since  my  wife  has  been  under 
the  blue  glass,  her  hair  on  the  head  has  begun  to  grow,  not 
merely  longer,  but  in  places  on  her  head  where  there  was 
none  new  hair  is  coming  out  thick.”  This  was  certainly  an 


12 


unexpected  effect,  but  it  displayed  an  evident  action  on  the 
skin,  and  so  far  was  encouraging.  Two  days  after  the  receipt 
of  this  note  I called  to  see  the  doctor,  and  while  he  was 
giving  me  an  account  of  the  experiment  with  the  blue  light, 
his  wife  entered  the  office,  and  coming  to  me,  she  said,  “ Oh, 
general ! I am  so  much  obliged  to  you  for  having  recommended 
to  me  that  blue  light !”  “ Ah !”  said  I,  “ is  it  doing  you  any 

good?”  “Yes,”  she  said,  “ the  greatest  possible  good.  _ Do 
you  know  that  when  I put  my  naked  foot  under  the  blue  light, 
all  my  pains  in  the  limb  cease  ?”  I inquired,  “ Is  that  a fact  ?” 
She  assured  me  that  it  was,  and  then  added,  “ My  maid  tells 
me  that  my  hair  is  growing  not  merely  longer  on  my  head, 
but  in  places  there  which  were  bald  new  hair  is  coming  out 
thick.”  She  also  said  that  the  pains  in  her  back  were  less, 
and  that  there  was  a general  improvement  in  the  condition  of 
her  health. 

Three  weeks  afterwards,  on  visiting  them,  the  doctor  told 
me  that  the  arrangement  of  blue  and  sunlight  had  been  a 
complete  success  with  his  wife;  that  her  pains  had  left  her; 
that  she  now  slept  well ; her  appetite  had  returned,  and  that 
she  had  already  gained  much  flesh.  His  wife,  a few  moments 
afterwards,  in'person,  confirmed  this  statement  of  her  husband,, 
and  he  added:  “From  n^y  observation  of  the  effects^  of  this 
associated  blue  and  sunlight  upon  my  wife,  I regard  it  as  the 
greatest  stimulant  and  most  powerful  tonic  that  I know  of  in 
medicine.  It  will  be  invaluable  in  typhoid  cases,  cases  of  de- 
bility, nervous  depressions,  and  the  like.”  It  was  at  this  time 
that  the'  first  svmptoms  in  the  improved  condition  of  the  health 
of  the  Prince  of  Wales,  who  had  been  dangerously  ill  in  Eng- 
land, were  announced,  when  the  doctor  added:  “Yow,  in  this 
case  of  the  Prince  of  Wales,  could  he  have  been  submitted  to 
this  treatment  with  the  associated  blue  and  sunlight  baths, 
his  recovery  would  be  in  one-tenth  part  of  the  time  that  it  will 
take  under  the  usual  treatment.” 

I introduce  here  a copy  of  the  letter  that  I received  from 
this  physician.  Dr.  S.  W.  BeckAvith,  on  this  subject.  It  is  as 
follows,  viz. : 

“ Electrical  Institute,  1220  Walnut  street, 

“ Philadelphia, 21,  1871. 

“Jb  General  A.  J.  Pleasonton. 

“ My  Dear  Sir  :— In  following  out  the  suggestions  from  you 
at  our  late  conversation  concerning  the  application  of  the  asso- 


13 


ciated  blue  light  of  the  sky  and  sunlight  for  the  cure  of  debility 
and  nervous  exhaustion,  I have  found  some  very  singular 
results. 

‘‘  The  application  of  your  theory  to  the  cultivation  of  plants 
and  the  development  of  animal  life,  has  been  wonderfully  sue* 
cessful ; but  it  will,  in  certain  conditions  of  human  suffering, 
prove  to  be  a far  greater  blessing  to  mankind,  if  judiciously 
used.  As  an  illustration,  I offer  the  following  facts,  viz : 

“ My  wife  had  been  suffering  trom  nervous  irritation  and 
exhaustion,  which  resulted  in  severe  neuralgic  and  rheumatic 
pains,  depriving  her  of  sleep  and  appetite  for  food,  and  pro- 
ducing in  her-  great  debility,  accompanied  by  a wasting  away 
of  her  body,  and  changing  the  normal  character  of  her  secre- 
tions. 

I had  prepared  a window  sash  fitted  with  blue  glass,  which 
was  inserted  in  one  half  of  one  of  the  windows  in  her  sitting- 
room,  The  sash  of  the  other  half  of  the  same  window  was 
fitted  with  uncoloured  glass,  the  window  having  a southern  ex- 
posure, and  receiving,  from  ten  and  a half  o’clock  a.  m.  till 
four  o’clock  p.  M,,  the  full  blaze  of  the  sun’s  light.  The  shut- 
ters of  the  other  window  (there  being  two  windows  in  the 
room)  were  closed,  excluding  all  light  from  it,  and  light  was 
also  excluded  from  the  upper  sash  of  the  first  mentioned 
window, 

“ This  arrangement  I found  to  furnish  too  strong  a blue  light 
for  my  wife’s  eyes;  and,  besides,  it  was  not  in  accordance  with 
your  instructions.  So  I introduced  an  equal  number  of  panes 
of  clear  glass  and  of  blue  glass  into  the  sash,  and  then  my  wife 
exposed  to  the  action  of  these  associated  lights  those  parts  of 
her  person  which  were  the  subjects  of  her  neuralgia.  In  three 
minutes  afterwards  the  pains  were  greatly  subdued ; and  in 
ten  minutes  after  having  received  the  lights  upon  her  person, 
they  almost  entirely  ceased  for  the  time  being,  whether  they 
were  in  the  head,  limbs,  feet,  or  spine.  With  each  application 
of  the  sun  and  blue  light  bath,  relief  was  given  immediately. 
There  is  no  doubt  in  my  mind  that  in  eases  of  exhaustion  from 
long-continued -fevers  and  other  debilitating  causes,  the  appli- 
cation of  this  principle  that  you  have  discovered -will  restore 
the  patients  to  health  with  a rapidity  tenfold  greater  than  can 
be  effected  by  any  other  treatment  within  my  knowledge. 


14 


“ Congratulating  you  upon  your  grand  discovery,  as  well  in 
science  as  in  animal  Hygiene, 

‘‘  I remain,  very  truly  yours, 

“ S.  BECKWITH. 

' p_  g. — From  a close  examination  of  tlie  effects  of  these 
associated  lights  of  the  sun  and  the  firmament,.!  am  ot  the 
opinion  that  they  furnish  the  greatest  stirnulant  and  the  most 
powerful  tonic  that  I am  acquainted  with  in  medicine. 

“ Very  truly  yours, 

“ S.  W.  BECKWITH.” 

About  this  time  (September,  1871),  one  of  my  sons,  about  22 
years  of  age,  a remarkably  vigourous  and  muscular  young  m.an, 
was  afflicted  with  a severe  attack  of  sciatica,  or  rheumatism  of 
the  sciatic  nerve,  in  his  left  hip  and  thigh,  from  which  he  had 
been  unable  to  obtain  any  relief,  though  the  usual  medical  as 
well  as  galvanic  remedies  had  been  applied.^  He  had  become 
lame  from  it,  and  he  suffered  much  pain  in  his  attempts  to 
walk. 

I advised  him  to  try  the  associated  sun  and  blue  light,  both 
upon  his  naked  spine  and  hip,  which  he  did  with  such  benefit 
that  at  the  end  of  three  weeks  after  taking  the  first  of  these  baths 
of  light,  every  symptonr  ot  the  disorder  disappeared,  and  he 
has  had  no  return  of  it  since; — a period  now  ot  three  years. 

Some  time  since  two  of  my  friends.  Major  Generals  S r 

and  D , of  the  United  States  regular  army,  were  on  duty 

in  this  city.  On  making  them  a visit  at  their  official  residence, 
I saw  on  the  window-ledge  as  I ^ entered  the  room,  a piece  of 
blue  glass  of  about  the  size  of  one  of  the  panes  of  glass  in  the 
window.  After  some  conversation,  General  D.  said  to  me,  ‘‘Did 
you  notice  that  piece  of  blue  glass  on  our  window-ledge?  I 
said,  “I  had  observed  it.”  ‘‘Do  you  know  what  it  is  there  for  ?” 
To  winch  I replied,  that  did*not  V He  then  said,  I will  tell 
you — S.  and  I have  been  suffering  very  much  from  rheumatism 
in  our  fore-arms,  from  the  .elbow-joints  to  our  fingers  ends; 
sometimes  our  fingers  were  so  rigid  that  we  could  not  hold  a 
peu — we  have  tried  almost  every  remedy  that  was  ever  heaid 
of  for  relief,  but  without  avail;  at  last  I said  to  S.,  suppose  we 
try  Pleasonton’s  blue  glass,  to  which  he  assented — when  I sent 
for  the  glass  and  placed  it  on  the  window-ledge.  When  the  sun 
began  about  ten  o’clock  in  the  morning  to  throw  its  light 


15 


through  the  glass  of  the  window,  we  took  off  our  coats,  rolled 
up  our  shirt  sleeves  to  the  shoulders,  and  then  held  our  naked 
arms  under  the  blue  and  sunlight;  in  three  days  thereafter, 
having  taken' each  day  one  of  these  sun-baths  for  30  minutes 
on  our  arms,  the  pains  in  them  ceased,  and  we  have  liot  had 
any  return  of  them  since — ^we  are  cured.” 

It  is  now  more  than  two  years  since  the  date  of  my  visit  to 
these  officers.  Two  months  ago  General  S.  told  me  that  he 
had  not  had  any  return  of  the  rheumatism,  nor  did  he  think 
that  General  D.  had  had  any — General  S.  in  the  meantime  had 
been  exposed  to  every  vicissitude-  of  climate,  from  the  Atlantic 
Ocean  to  Washington  Territory,  on  the  Pacific,  and  from  the 
49th  degree  of  notth  latitude  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  General 
P.  was  theffi  stationed  in  the  far  hTorth. 

In  the  beginning  of  March,  1873,  I was  called  upon  by  Mr. 
Henry  H.  Holloway,  a very  respectable  gentleman,  doing  busi 
ness  in  this  city  as  a bookseller,  who  came  to  consult  me  on 
the  subj^t  of  his  mother’s  illness,  and  to  ask  my  opinion  in 
regard  tolhe  propriety  of  using  blue  and  sunlight  baths  in 
her  case.  He  stated  that  his  mother  had  been  confined  to  her 
bed  for  more  than  two  months,  and  that  she  w^as  sufferino-  ex- 
cruciating pains  in  her  head,  spine  and  other  parts  of  her  body ; 
that  she  could  not  bear  to  be  moved  in  bed ; that  she  could  not 
sleep,  and  having  no  appetite,  she  was  rapidly  wasting  away 
in  flesh  and  strength ; that  her  physician  had  not  been  able  to 
make  any  impression  uppn  her  malady,  and  that  the  family 
w'ere  in  despair  lest  she  should  die ; that  its  members  had  been 
summoned  to  her  bedside  that  afternoon  to  see  her  probably 
for  the  last  time,  and  if  I thought  that  these  blue  and  sunlight 
baths  would  relieve  his  mother,  he  wished  to  have  them  tried. 
From  his  account  it  was  evident  that  her  situation  was  criti- 
cal, and  that  there  was  a*serious  disturbance  of  the  electrical 
equilibrium  in  her  system;  I told  him  very  frankly  that  I 
thought  his  mother  could  be  greatly  benefited  by  tbe  use  of  the 
said  baths  of  light,  and  I informed  him  bow  and  how  often 
these  baths  of  light  should  be  administered.  He  expressed 
himself  much  gratified  by  my  explanations  and  said,  that  he 
wmuld  urge  his  mother  and  her  physician  to  give  them  a fair 
trial.  I received  from  him  subsequently  a letter,  of  which  the 
following  is  a copy,  viz  : 

“Philadelphia,  April  14.ih,  1873. 

‘ ‘ To  General  A.  J.  Pleasonton. 

“ Dear  Sir  : — Knowing  that  you  have  been  assiduously  inves- 


tigating  the  curative  properties  of  blue  light  (for  human 
diseases)  for  several  years  past,  a feeling  of  gratitude  prompts 
me  to  take  the  liberty  of  communicating  a few  facts  that  may 
he  of  some  interest  to  you. 

“About  six  weeks  since  I heard  you  explaining  to  an  ac- 
quaintance of  yours,  the  way  in  which  blue  light  should  be 
arranged  in  windows,  so  as  to  take  sun-baths  thereby.  In 
enumerating  the  classes  of  invalids  that  would  be  benefited 
by  such  baths,  you  mentioned  those  afflicted  with  spinous  or 
nervous  diseases. 

“ I was  an  interested  auditor ; for  my  mother,  Margaret  C. 
Holloway,  residing  in  Chesterfield  “township,  Burlington 
county,  Hew  Jersey,  had  then  been  confined  to  her  bed  for 
about  two  months,  her  entire  nervous  system  being  appar- 
ently incurably  aflected.  It  was  probably  a regular  consump- 
tion of  the  nerves.  She  appeared  to'  be  wasting  away  very 
rapidly,  and  we  had  but  little,  if  any,  hope  of  her  recovery. 

■ “At  my  request,  after  first  obtaining  the  full  consent  of  her- 
self and  the  attending  physician,  blue  %yindow  lights  (pur- 
chased froth  French,  Richards  & Co.,  of  this  city,)  were  suita- 
bly arranged  in  the  west  windows  of  her  room,  the  east  win- 
dows being  too  much  shaded  by  trees  to  admit  the  light  pro- 
perly. During  the  first  week  thereafter,  the  weather  was  so 
unfavorable  that  only  one  sun-bath  could  be  taken ; but  the 
next  week,  three  or  four  w^ere  taken  on  consecutive  days. 

“From  the  commencement  of  her  sickness,  she  had  not  been 
able  to  sit  up  more  than  a few  minutes  each  day,  just  while 
the  nurse  made  the  bed;  but  in  a few  days  after  the  several 
sun-baths  w’ere  taken  in  succession,  she  surprised  the  entire 
family  by  getting  up  and  dressing  herself  while  they  were  at 
breakfast.  She  probably  over-exerted  herself  as  she  was  not 
so  well  for  two  or  three  days  thereafter.  However,  she  con- 
tinued to  improve  very  rapidly,  and  has  now  almost  or  entirely 
regained  her  usual  health. 

,“  I may  just  here  state  the  most  important  perceptible  efiects 
of  the  sun-bath. 

“ During  most  of  the  time  of  her  illness,  mother  suffered 
from  an  intense  pain  in  the  upper  part  of  the  spine  and  in  her 
head,  and  the  galvanic  battery  had  been  frequently  and  regu- 
larly  used  in  the  hope  of  mitigating  it.  The  sun-baths  re- 
lieved this  pain  very  materially;  and  also  induced  a profuse 


17 


perspiration  that  relieved  the  jiiterior.  organs  from  their  ob- 
structions, and  which  relief  medicines,  as  well  as  the  galvanic- 
battery,  had  failed  to  produce. 

“ These  are  the  important  facts  in  the  case.  • 

“The  attending  physician  would  probably  maintain  that  the 
remedial  virtue  was  mainly  or  altogether  in  his  medieinds,  b=ii 
the  circumstances  are  such  as  to  induce  the  belief  that  motlier’- 
speedy  recoveiy  was  in  a great  degree  attributable  to  the  cura- 
i've  properties  of  the  blue  glass.  lam  so  fully  convinced  of 
tins  that  I shall  hereafter  use  tlie  glass  in  a similar  way,  in  al) 
cases  of  protracted  sickness  in  my  own  famil\',  whenever  prac- 
ticable. 

“Very  respectfull}" yours,  &c., 

. “HENRY  H.  HOXLO’WAY, 

“No.  6 South  Tenth  street,  Philadelphia,  Pa.” 

This  lady  soon  afterwards  recovered  her  usual  good  health . 
and  on. its  re-establishment,’  she  made  several  visits  to  her  sons 
residing  here.  In  two  of  these  visits,  I had  the  pleasure  to 
see  her.  In  one  of  the  interviews  that  I had  with  her,  she 
told  me  that  for  two  }’ears  prior  to  the  use  of  these  baths  of 
liglitshe  had  had  no  perceptible  perspiration,  but  that  after  the 
•'Jiird  of  these  light  baths,  a most  copious  perspiration  broke 
out  all  over  her  person,  but  particularly  profuse  on  her  neck 
and  shoulders,  and  that  she  had  called  her  daughter  to  witness 
it,  who  scraped  it  with  her  hands  from  her  neck  and  shoulders  as 
a groom  does  from  a horse  that  has  been  hard  driven  or  ridden 
in  summer.  She  dates  her  recovery  from  the  restoration  of 
her  power  to  perspire,  which  she  attributed  to  the  effect  of  the 
associated  sun  and  blue  lights.  • , 

I ^ 

I addressed  a note  to  the  attending  physician  in  this  case, 
asking  from  him  a statement  of  the  case,  with  its  diagnosis,  &c. 
Prom  his  reply  I make  the  following  extract,  viz : “ Mrs.  H. 
.had  been  sick  some  two  or  three  weeks  with  excessive  spinal 
iritation  amounting  to  partial  paralysis  of  the  right  side,  with 
•intense  neuralgia  from  the  occiput  down  to  the  foot,  including 
the  right  arm.  This  condition  was  greatly  improved  before 
the  blue  glass  was  used.  She  was  almost  free  from  pain,  but 
nervous  iritation  remaining  at  this  time  I made  use  of  the 
galvanic  battery,  which  she  thought  done  her  a great  deal  of 
good. 


18 


“I  ihink  it  was  some  two  or  three  days  after  that,  the  blue 
light  was  used.  She  says  that  she  took  it  about  twelve  times 
altogether,  from  a quarter  to  a half  hour  each  time. 

“You  can  draw  your  own  conclusion,  if  there  was  any  benefit 
derived  from  blue  light. 

. “My  dear  sir,  I would  not  have  you  imagine  that  I do  not 
have  any  faith  in  your  theory,  for  I confidently  believe  that  it 
has  a most  powi^rful  influence,  both  on  the  animal  and  vegeta- 
b'e  kingdoms. 

Y I should  like,  at  some  future  period,  tb  give  it  a fair  trial ; 
conseq^iently,  if  it  would  not  be  encroaching  too  much  on  your 
time,  I should  like  very  much  to  hear  from  you  in  regard  to 
3 our  experience  of  its  application  and  result,  the  nianner  and 
mode  by  Avhich  it  may  be  used,  and  should  there  be  any 
benefit  derived  by  its  use,  I would  most  cheerfully  transmit 
that  fact  to  you. 

“ Respectfully  yours, 

‘ “ J.  G.  L.  WHITEHEAD. 

“ Ckosswicks,  April  Sd,  1873d’ 

I have  introduced  here  the  extract  from  the  letter  of  Dr. 
Whitehead  merely  to  show  the  desperate  condition  of  his 
patient,  her  agonizing  suffering,  and  the  well  founded  appre^ 
hensions  of  the  patient’s  family — that  the  situation  of  the 
patient  was  extremely  critical,  and  fully  justified  the  use  even 
of  experiment  with  a new  practice,  in  the  attempt  to  relieve 
her.  When  they  saw  that  the  expedients  resorted  to  during 
her  long  sickness  had  failed  to  produce  the  desired  results.  Dr. 
Whitehead,  himself,  is  stated  by  Mr.  Holloway  to  have  given 
his  full  consent  to  have  the  experiment  with  the  blue  light  i 
made  in  the  case  of  Mrs.  Holloway,  she  also  desiring  it,  which 
is  conclusive  that  she.  had  not  been  so  much  benefited  by  his 
treatment  of  her  as  to  wish  to  continue  it  longer,  and  that  he 
also  was  in  doubt  as  to  its  efficacy  from  the  adoption  of  another 
practice. 

About  this  time,  Mr.  H.  H.  Hollowa^q  the  gentleman  whose' 
mother’s  case  is  given  above,  being  a great  sufferer  from  rheu- 
matism, from  which  he  had  been  unable  to  obtain  relief, 
determined  to  try  in  his  own  person  the  efficacy  of  the  sun 
and  blue  light  bath,  and  after  having  tested  it  to  his  entire 
satisfaction,  addressed  me  a letter,  as  follows,  viz : 


19 


“ Philadelphia,  October  17th,  18?'^. 

'•’’Gen.  A.  J.  Pleasoiiton. 

“Dear  Sir: — In  the  spring  of  1872, 1 was  afflicted  with  the 
rheumatism  (sciatica,)  for  nearly  two  months,  and  I suffered 
from  a recurrence  of  the  same,  at  intervals,  until  last  spring. 
At  that  time  the  surprising  effect  which  your  blue  glass  sun- 
baths produced  in  restoring  my  mother  to  health  (an  account 
of  which  I sent  you  a few  months  since,)  induced  me  to  try 
the  same  for  the  rheumatism. 

“I  took  three  or  four  such  baths  of  sun  and  blue  light,  in  . 
accordance  with  your  directions,  and  have  had  no  returns  of 
the  rheumatism  since,  although  six  months  have  now  elapsed; 
and  I have  been- much  exposed  in  stormy  weatheri  My  limbs 
have  been  a little  stiff,  but  without  pain,  two  or  . three  times 
during  long  continued'  storms,  which  was  probably  owing  to- 
the  mercury  contained  in  the  drugs  taken  by  me,  when  first, 
attacked  in  1872. 

“I  have  deferred  writing  to  you  on  the  subject  for  several 
months,  so  that  sufficient  time  might  elifpse  to  be  sure  of  the 
permanence  of  the  effect  of  the  blue  glass  sunbaths. 

“ I am  fiilly  confident  that  a fair  trial  of  said  sunbaths  will 
seldom  if  ever  fail  to  cure  the  rheumatism,  and  I wish  that  so 
simple  and  inexpensive  a curative  agent  may  speedily  become 
popularized. 

“Very  respectfully, 

“HEURY  H.  HOLLOWAY. 

“ Ho.  5 South  10th  street,  Phila.” 

In  the  further  consideration  of  this  subject,  I introduce  here 
some  extracts  from  a letter  received  from  Dr.  Robert  Rohland, 
a distinguished  physician  residing  in  Hew  York. 

“Hew  York,  Jul^  13th,  1873. 

“ General  A.  J.  Pleasanton. 

“ Sir  : — ^Dr.  McL.  told  me,  three  days  since,  that  you  had 
written  to  him  about  a new  edition  of  your  highly  interesting 
pamphlet  on  blue  light  that  you  were"  preparing,  that  would 
contain  additional  results  that  you  had  obtained  in  your  experi- 
ments with  blue  light  as  a healing  power.  I can  readily 
believe  in  its  efficacy,  and  I very  much  regret  that  I have  been 
unable  to  continue  my  own  experiments  in  the  same  direction, 
by  which  many  new  facts  would  have  been  developed  in  all 


20 


■•ikelihood  to  tlio  great  benefit  of  suffering  humanity.  Be  that 
' ' it  may,  you  deserve  the  warmest  thanks  for  having  extended 
your  experiments  so  far,  making  the  professional  plyysicians  to 
feel  ashamed  that  none  of  them  thought  it  worth,  their  while 
TO  draw  practical  consequences  from  your  experiments  in  the 
levelopment  of  animal  and  vegetable  life.  As  the  effect  of 
olue  light  is  identical  with  ‘ od-force  ’ it  might  be  of  interest 
to  3'ou  to  hear  of  some  surprising  phenomena  produced  on 
soiisitive  persons  in  connection  with  blue  light  and  corrobora- 
ting the  results  of  ^od-force  ’ and  ‘ odified  'preparations.  ’ 

'•  1.  Compare  with  your  results  of  the  blue  light  on  the  Alder- 
ney bull  calf  the  statement  of  Dr.  Henry  B.  Ilcind,  page  36  'if 
my  pamphlet  on  ‘ od-force’  case  No.  17,  and  you  Avill  find  tlu' 
timilor  surprising  growth  of  babies,  by  using  my  ‘ od-tnafpiet/t' 
tiigar  of  milk.’ 

“2.  I exposed,  about  a year  ago,  a man  suffering  with  severe 
rheumatism  to  the  influence  of  the  blue  light  through  two 
glass  panes.  He  felf,  after  fifteen  minutes,  much  relieved,  and 
eould  move  about  without  pains,  but  complained  of  a nasty 
metallic  taste  on  his  tongue.  The  same  happened  to  a friend'  ' 
who  visited  me  duripg  odo-magnetizing  sugar  of  milk,  when 
I placed  his  hand  in  the  blue  and  violet  rays  of  the  prism.  • 

“Dr.  riardis,  assistant  physician  of  Dr.  E.  B.  Foote,  has  the 
same  metallic  (copper)  taste,  whenever  he  takes  some  of  my  ) 
odo-magnetic  sugar  of  milk,  on  his  tongue ; also  Dr.  Fincke,  a 
highly  educated  and  reliable  physician  in  Brooklyn,  Avho  ex- 
perimented a great  deal  with  od-force  produced  by  the  blue 
and  violet  rays  of  the  prism,  and  who  placed  the  hand  of  a 
man  Avithin  these  rays,  and  the  latter  complained  of  having  a 
taste  like  verdigris  on  his  tongue. 

“These  examples  show  that  the  blue  and  violet  light  .and  the  \ 

od-force  generated  in  this  AAmy  are  of  an  electric  positive  nature  ; ; 

and  it  is  Amry  much  to  be  regretted  that  Professor  Von  Eeichen-  : 
bach  reversed  the  poles,  and,  in  his  Avorks,  caljs  this  pole, 
which  is  analogical  in  its  effects  to  the  posdive  pole  of  any  elec- 
tric or  eleccro-magnetic  apparatus,  the  ‘ odie-negative  one,’  , 
causing  by  that  uselessly  an  unavoidable  confusion.”  * 

In  the  latter  part  of  March,  1874, 1 received  a letter  from 
Major-General  Charles  W.  Sanford,  late  the  commander  of 
the  National  Guard  of  the  city  of  New  York,  of  which  the  fob  ^ 
lowing  is  a copy  : j 


“462  West  Twenty-Second  street,  1 
“New  York,  March  1874.  / 
“7b  31aj or- General  Pleasonton, 

“ 918  Spruce  street,  Phila.,  Pa.. 

“ General  : — Will  you  oblige  me  with  a copy  of  your  pam- 
pblet  upon  the  use  of  blue  glass  ? I had  some  time  since  an 
opportunity  to  read  it,  and  having  an  invalid  daughter,  her 
pliysician  was  induced  to  try  the  experiment  of  having  blue 
glass  inserted  in  her  windows.  She  has  been  materially  bene- 
fited by  its  use,  and  I am  anxious  to  investigate  the  subject, 

“ She  has  also  a number  of  plants  in  her  sitting-room,  whic'^-, 
have  grown  and  flourished  in  an  extraordinary  manner  under 
its  influence.  -Yam,  General,  very  respectfully, 

“ Your  obedient  servant, 

“CHAELES  W.  SAYFOED.”  ' 

Extract  from  a letter  of  Dr.  Eobert  Eohland,-of  Yew  York- 
received  Eymre  in  June,  1874. 

'k 

“Yew  York,  28,  1874. 

“ To  General  A.  J.  Pleasonton, 

“Philadelphia.' 

“Sir: — . ...  . . Several  gentlemen  have  made  some 
experiments  with  blue  light  under  my  direction,  with  very 
favourable  results,  especially  Dr.  L.  Fisher,  in  a case  of  general 
debility  and  exhaustion,  and  Dr,  McLaury,  in  a case  of  very 
troublesome  tumor, 

“Very  respectfully  yours,  truly, 

“DE.  EOBEET  EOHLAYD.” 

^Extract  from  a letter  of  Dr.  Wra,  M.  McLaury,  of  Yew 
Y ork,  r.eceived  by  me  in  August,  1874. 

“ To  General  Pleasonton,  Phila, 

, “ Dear  Sir  : — Understanding  through  Dr.  E.  Eohland  that 
you  are  about  to  publish  a new  edition  of  your  article  on  the 
blue  ray,  with  some  additional  matter,  I suppose  that  you 
would  like  to  hear  of  my  experience  therewith.  * ^ 

“ I regret  to  state  that  my  experience  is  as  yet  very  limited, 
but  I have  great  hopes  that  by  extensive  experiments,  with 
careful  observation,  we  will  yet  find  it  to  be  an  important 
aa:ent  in  combatinsr  disease. 


. . , “In  a little  girl,  one  nionlli  old,  was  foun<l  a 

hard  resisting  tumour  about  the  size  ot  a robin’s  egg,  in  the 
sub-maxillary  region  of  the  left' side.  I bad  it  placed  in  such 
a position  that  tlie  rays  of  light  through  a blue  glass  should 
impinge  upon  it  one  hour,  at  least,  each  day.  This  tumefac- 
tion disappeared  entirely  within  fort^^'  days. 

“The  child  has  developed  astonishingly;  is  now  seven 
months  old  ; is  exceedingly  bright  and  happy;  has  not  known 
an  hour’s  sickness  or  discomfort.  Its  peculiar  freedom  from 
i;;faiitile  ills  I attribute,  at  least  in  some  degree,  to  the  influence 
• d'  the  blue  light. 

“ "With  great  respect,  yours,  • 

“ WM.  M.  McLATJRY. 

“ IsEW  York  Gyiy,  August  20th,  1874.” 

Some  time  since,  Mrs.  C.,  the  wdfe  of  Major-General  C.,  a 
distinguished  officer  of  the  United  States  regular  army,  told 
me  that  one  of  her  grandchildren,  a little  boy  about  eightee;i 
mouths  old,  had  from  his  birth  had  so  little  use  of  his  legs 
that  ha  could  neither  crawl  nor  walk,  and  was  apparently  so 
CM  .i'cebled  in  those  limbs  that  she  hegan  to  fear  that  the  child 
wa.;  permanently  paralyzed  in  them. 

To  obviate  such  an  affliction,  she  requested ' the  mother  of 
tba  child  to  send  him,  with  his  two  young  sisters,  to  play  in 
the  entry  of  the  second  story  of  her  house,  where  she  had 
fitted  up"  a window  with  blue  and  plain  glass  in  equal  propor- 
tions. The  children  were  accordingly  brought  there  and  were 
allowed  to  play  for  several  hours  in  this  large  entry  of-  hall 
tinder  the  mixed  sun  and  blue  light..  In  a very  few  days,  Mrs. 
0 — —told  me  that  the  child  manifested  great  improvement 
in  the  strength  of  its  limbs,  having  learned  to  climb  by  a 
chair,  to  crawl  and  to  walk,'and  thaflie  was  then  as  promising 
-a  child  as  any  one  is  likely  to  see. 

In  'the  case  of  the  child,  whose  premature  birth  occured 
at  the  naval  station  at  Mound  City,  in  Illinois,  Commodore 
Ooldsborough  was  informed  by  its  mother,  a short  time  since, 
th|it  it  had  continued  to  improve  in  health,  size  and  vigour, 
since  the  Commodore  had  last  seen  it,  and  that  it  was  then  a 
perfect  specimen  of  infantile  development. 

Tlie  case  of  this  child,  described  by  Commodore  Golds- 
borough,  is  a yery  remarkable  one,  for,  having  been  prema- 
turely  born,  it  may  be  presumed  that  its  organization  w-as  not 


23 


S as  eompletelj  developed  as  it  Avould  have  been  had  it-fulfibed'' 
» the  entire  period  of  its  gestation — and  consequently  it  would 
seem  that  the  association  of  the  blue  and  sun  light  had  re- 
r paired  all  the  deficiencies  in  its  organisms  existing  at  its  birth. 

"We  have,  in  these  instances  that  I have  advanced,  maui- 
•'  festations  of  the  remarkable  variety  of  powers  as  developed  in 

t'  the  several  cases,  all  difiering  from  each  other  in  their  various 

disorders,  and  all  having  been  restored  to  their  normal  condi- 
tion of  health  and  vigour ; and,  in  some  instances,  having  had 
, that  condition  increased  and  intensified. 

"We  have  had  moidbund  fiowefing  plants,  not  only  arrested 
in  their  course  of  decay,  but  rein’sfigourated,  and  their  beauti- 
fill  tints  of  colour  greatly  improved. 

b 'We  have  had  branches  of  a ti’opical  fruit  tree,  that  were 

■ exposed  to  the  action  of  blue  light,  made  highly  fruitful,  while 
t ^ others  of  the  same  tree,  not  similarly  exposed,  bore  no  fruit, 

I and  were  feeble  and  apparently  unhealthy.  . ' 

We  have  an  immature  infant  child,  defective  in  its  develop- 
i ' . ments  at  its  birth,  made  perfect  in  its  parts,  and  strengthened 
so  as  to  become  a striking  instance  of  infantile  health,  vigour 
and  beauty. 

' V "W^e  have  had  in  another  infant  child,  only  one  month  old, 
an  obstinate  tumour  to  be  absorbed,  and. a degree  of  bodily 
i . vigour  imparted  to  it  that  defied  the  attacks  of  all  infantile 
disorders  after  the  tumour  had  disappeared. 

I "We  have  had  poultry  of  the  same  variety,  hatched  on  the 

same  day,  presenting  siich  different  .stages  of  advanced 
development,  after  the  lapse  of  the  same  period  of  time,  to 
those  of  similar  poultry  reared  in  the  common  way,  that 
incredulity  must  yield  to,  well  established  fact,  and  surprise 
give  way  to  conviction. 

We  have  had  the  vocal  powers  of  a singing  bird,  that  had 
ceased  to  sing,  again  -excited,  and  its  musical  tones  again 
poured  forth  with  greater  force,  richness  and  beauty  than  it 
: . had  before  ever  displayed,  to  the  delight  of  all  who  have  heard 

■ The  deaf  has  been  made  to  hear:  in  a domestic  animal, 

p,  the  mule,  which  for  nearly  ten.  years,  and  perhaps  longer,  had 

' . heard  not  at  all ; and  the  stifthess  of  his  limbs  witl^  rheuma;- 


24 


ti«m  has  given  way  to  the  natural  elasticity  of  his  normal 
condition  of  health.  Under  this  most  potent  influence,  lambs 
that  may  be  used  for  the  food  and  clothing  of  man,  have  been 
so  greatly  developed  in  so  short  a time  that  we  may  reasona- 
bly liope  that  the  rearing  of  domestic  animals  for  food  may  be 
s!)  largely  extended  ’and  improved,  that  immense  numbers  of 
uiankind  who,  from  the  costliness  of  such  food  heretofore, 
had  never  tasted  it,  may,  in  the  near  future,- be  no  longer  de- 
prived of  the  use  of  this  most  stimulating  and  nourishing 
article  of  flesh  diet. 

Bxit  the  greatest  value  of  this  application  of  blue  light,  will 
be  found  to  be  in  its  curative  poAver  in  human,  and  animal  dis- 
orders of  health. 

In  the  cases  before  quoted  in  the  human  family,  rheumatism, 
both  chronic  and  acute,  netiralgia,  with  its  accompaniment  of 
partial  paralysis  and  various  other  complications,  torpor  of  the 
lower  extremities  of  a child,  nearly  amounting  to  paralysis,, 
have  all  yielded. to  the  application  of  these  vital  forces  of  light. 
May  we  not  congratulate  mankind  on  the  blessings  which  this 
discovery  foreshadows  ? 

For  cerebral  disorders,  from  .softening  of  the  brain  to  con- 
firmed insanity,  I would  respectfully  suggest  to  the  medical  pro- 
fession full  trials  of  the  blue  and  sunlight  baths,  to  be  taken 
by  their  patients  at  least  once  in  every  twenty-four  hours  on  the 
naked  spine  and  back  of  the  head.  Should  they  succeed  in 
removing  the  disorders  of 'the,  brain,  we  may,  in  the  near 
future,  be  relieved  of  the  cost  'of  building  additional  lunatic 
asylums,  and  insanity  may  be  classed  as  a curable  disease. 

While  this  edition  was  being  put  through  the  press,  I 
received  the  following  communication  and  its  enclosure  from 
Dr.  Eobert  Eohland,  a distinguished  scientist,  resident  in 
Hew  York : 

209  Third  Avenue,  Hew  York.  1 
. October  ’2.6th,  187 4-.  J 

(iEN.  A.  J.  PlEASONTON.  ' . 

Dear  Sir; — With  mj^  warmest  thanks  for  your  last,  land 
letter,  I have,  to-day,  the  pleasure  to  send  you  enclosed,  at  last, 
the  report  of  Dr.  Fisher's  patient ; and  am  still  in  hopes  to 
send  you  more  next  month. 

Accept  the  assurance  of  my  highest  respect,  and  allow  me 
to  sign  myself,  your  most  obedient  and  grateful, 

‘ Dr.  EOBEET  EOIILAHD. 


l’5 

• 

Enclosed  in  the  above,  was  the  following  statement  of  the 
lad}' who  had  been  placed  under  the  influence  of  the  associated 
dght  of  the  sun  and  the  blue  light  of  the  firmament,  and  tlie 
b’ne  rays  eliminated  from  sun-light  transmitted  through  blue 
glass : 

='At  the  request  of  my  attending  physician.  Dr.  Louis 
i-'isher,  I will  state,  as  briefly  as  possible,  the  eftects  produced 
upon  me  by  the  transmission  of  the  sun’s  ray*  through  blu 
glass : 

Having  been  an  invalid  for  nearly  three  years,  and  for  thv 
last  half  of  that  time  confined  entirely  to  my  rooms  on  one 
s'  oor,  I became  so  reduced  by  the  long  confinement,  and  my 
nervous  system  seemed  so  completely  broken  down,  that  all 
’ onics  lost  their  effects,  sleep  at  nights  could  only  be  obtained 
‘■^y  the  use  of  Opiates,  appetite,  of  course,  there  was  none,  and 
-arcely  a vestige  of  color  remained,  either  in  my  lips,  face  or 
hands — as  a last  resort  I was  placed,  about  the  19th  of  Janu- 
ary, 1874,  under  the  influence  of  blue  glass  rays.  Two  large 
panes  of  the  glass,  each  36  inches  long  by  16  inches  wide,  wore 
placed  in  the  upper  part  of  a sunny  window  in  my  parlour,  a 
Tviudovv  Avith  a south  exposure,  ;tnd  as  the  blue  and  sunlight 
streamed  into  the  room,  I sat  in  it  continuously — I was  also 
advised  by  Dr.  Fisher,  to  take  a regular  sun-bath  of  it;  at 
;east  to  let  the  blue  rays  fall  directly  on  the  spine  for  about  20 
u'  30  minutes  at  a time,  morning  and  afternoon ; but  the 
■fleets  of  it  Avere  too  strong  for  me  to  bear ; and  as  I Avas  pro- 
gressing very  favorably  by  merely  sitting  in  it  in  my'ordinary 
iruss,  that  was  considered  sufficient.' 

In  two  or  three  weeks  the  change  began  to  be  very  percep- 
iible.  The  colour  began  returning  to  my  face,  lips  and  hands, 
ay  nights  became  better,  ray  appetite  more  natural,  and  my 
strength  and  vitality  to  return,  while  my  AA'hole  nervous 
system,  AAms  most  decidedly  strengthened  and  soothed. 

“ In  about  six  weeks,  I Avas  alloAved  to  try  going  up  and  down 
a fcAV  stairs  at  a time,  being  able  to  test  in  that  Avay  hoAv  the 
strength  Avas  returning  into  my  limbs,  and  by  the  middle  of 
April,  Avhen  the  spring  Avas  sufficiently  advanced  to  make  it 
prudent  for  me  to  try  Avalkiug  out,  I Avas  able  to  do  so. 

“ The  experiment  Avas  made  a peculiarly  fair  one  b;f  the 
stoppage  of  all  tonics,  &c.,  as  soon  as  the  glass  AA'as  placed  in 
the  Avindow,  allowing  me  to  depend  solely  on  the  efficacy  of 
the  blue  light.” 


2C 


A distinguished  surgeon  of  this  city,  on  being  made 
acquainted  with  the  remarkable  vivifying_  effects  of  this  force, 
in  several  of  the  cases  mentioned  herein,  expressed  to  the 
author,  the  opinion  that  the  vitalizing  influence  of  these  asso-  ■ 
ciated  colours,  would  probably  be  found  to  eradicate  scrofula, 
and  the  terrible  diseases  wliich  have  produced  it,  from  fbe 
human  system — a result  never  yet  attained  by  any  medical 
treatment  now  known. 

If  this  opinion  should  prove  to  he  well  founded,  why  may 
we  not  anticipate  that  tubercular  consumption  of  the  lun^gs 
may  be  arrested  in  its  progress,  its  abscesses  absorbed  and  dis- 
persed by  the  purified  blood  taking  up  the  purulent  matter, 
and  either  dcconiposing  it,  or  eliminating  it  through  the 
various  excreting  channels  of  the  body  t* 

If  this  last  mentioned  case  had  furnished  the  only  example 
of  the  restorative  influence  of  blue  light  upon  disordered  health, 
it  should  awaken  in  the  medical , profession,  throughout  the 
world,  a desire' to  investigate  the  causes  and  sources  of  that 
force  which  had  produced  such  marvelous  effects. 

Let  us  attempt  a soiutim.  The  juxtaposition  of  plain 
uncoloured  glass  and  blue  glass  in  the  passage,  of  sunlight, 
and  the  transmitted  blue  light  of  the  firmament,  and  the 
eliminated  blue  rays  of  the  sun-light  through  them  respectively , 
evolves  an  electro-magnetic  current,  which  imparts  to  vegeta- 
ble or  animal  life  subjeeted  to  it,  an  extraordinary  impulse  to 
the  dcvelop'ement  of  their  respective  vigour  and  growth. 
Their  vitality  is  strengthened  so  as  to  resist  disease,  and  to 
throw  it  off  in  those  instances  in  \yhich  it  had  appeared  before 
having  been  subjected  to  its  power.  , , 


* A friend  of  mine  has  .sent  me  the  following  notice,  viz: 


“ Lifk  TTitder  Glass.” — The  author  of  “Life  Under  Glass,”  sends  to  the 
Boaion  Transcript,  a letter  giving  .some  curious  results  of  his  experience  m t ic 
use  of  coloured  glass,  as  a medium  for  the  transmission  of  the  sun  s riws  m the 
treatment' of  lurig  disease.  The  writer  of  the  connnunication,  bemg  himself  a 
victim  to  weak  lungs,  gave  special  attention  to  the  subject  from  personal  as  widl 
as  professional  interest.  His  attention  was  directed  to  the  matter  by  an  accident 
in  his  own  experience.  During  the  autumn  of  he  was  home  on  ,yek 

leave”  from  the  army,  and  was  in  tlie  habit  of  frequentin"ttie  pholygraph  gallery 
of  afriend.  The  operatbig  room  of  the  gallery  was  lighted  by  a skylightol  light 
lilue  glass,  and  the  walls  weie  tinted  of  the  same  colour,  lie  soon  noticf'd,  that 
he  invariably  felt  better  after  an  hour  or  two  passed  in  the  gallery,  and  he  -spas 
firmlv  coiivinced  that  the  beneficial  effect  was  largely  due  to  blue  light.  Alter 
the  war,  he  began  a series  of  experiments  among  his  patients  by  using  blue 
class.  As  the  light  from  pure  blue  glass  is  not  entirely  agreeable  to  the  eye,  he 
alternated  the  panes  with  clear  glass.  This  was  an  improvement,  and  he  went 
on  with  his  experiment  until  he  attained  the  liighest  sanitary  power  in  a purple 
or  li'^ht  violet  colour,  the  red,  iu  the  staining,  making  the  light  pleasant  to  bear. 


The  velocity  of  light  on  the  earth’s  surlace  has  been  found 
Tv  Leon  Foucault,  by  .experiments  most  carefully  conducted^ 

to  be  298,000  kilometres  or  186,000  miles  per  second  of  time 

now  of  the  seven  primary  rays  of  light,  all  of  them  excepting 
the  blue  ray  and  possibly  its  compounds,  purple,  indigo  and 
violet,  which  perhaps  are  decomposed,  and  the  blue  ray 
liberated,  are  suddenly  arrested  in  their  marvelously  rapid 
course,  on  coming  in  contractwith  the  blue  glass.  This  sudden 
impact  of  the  intercepted  rays  on  the  outer  surface  of  the  blue 
glass  with  this  inconceivable  speed,  produces  a large  amount 
of  friction.  Light,  though  imponderable,  yet  is  material,  since 
according  to  the  book  of  Genesis,  God  said,  “ Let  light  be  made,, 
and  it  was  made” — and  the  movement  of -matter  upon  matter' 
always  produces  friction.  By  friction  electricity  is  evolved,  and 
when  opposite  electricities  meet  in  conjunction,  their  conflict 
according  to  th  e cetebrated  Banish  philosopher,  0 ersted,  develops 
magnetism.  ^ The  electricity  produced  by  this  friction  is 
negative,  while  the  electrical  condition  of  the  glass  is  opposite, 
or  positive,  and  heat  is  therefore  also  evolved  by  their  conjunc- 
tion. This  heat  sufliciently  expands  the  pores  of  the  glass  to 
pass  through  it — and  then  you  have  within  the  apartment,  elec- 
tricity, magnetism,  light  and  heat— all  essential  elementsjof  viva' 
force.  Without  light  and  heat,  life  cannot  exist,  and  electricity 
■and  magnetism  are  indispensable  to  its  active  vitality.  This 
cun’ent  of  electro-magnetism,  when  allowed  to  fall  upen  the 
spinal  column  of  an  animal,  is  conducted  by  its  nerves  to  the 
brain,  and  thence  is  distributed  over  its  whole  nervous  svstem, 
imparting  vigour  to  all  the  organs  of  the  body,  and  svimu- 
lating  them  into  active  exercise : hence  follows  restoration  to 
health. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  summer  of  1871,  having  caused  to 
be  printed  an  edition  of  my  memoir  which,  a short  time  before., 
I had  read  before  you,  I distributed  copies,  of  it  among  literary 
and  scientific  institutions,  and  to  such  persons  of  culture  aV 
yvere  likely  to  be  interested  in  the  investigation  of  the  subjects 
treated  of  in  it.  Having  sent  several  copies  to  W ashington 
oify,  I received  from  my  friends  there  suggestions  to  take- out 
Letters  Patent  from  the  Government  of  the  United  States  for 
niy  new  discovery,  which  they  deemed  to  be  of  the  highest 
importance.  Accordingly,  I made  an  application  to  the  Oom- 
■ missioner  of  Patents  for  the  issue  of  Letters  Patent  thereon. 
Ti  hen  the  application  was  received  at  the  Patent  Ofiice,  the 
novelty  of  its  character,  and  the  wonderful  results  of  the  ex- 
periments on  which  the  application  had  been  based,  excited 


28 


.the  greatoyt  surprise  aud  interest  among  tlie  officers  of  the- 
Bureau  of  Patents.  The  application  "u^as  referred  by  the 
C ommissioner  to  the  Examiuer-in-chief  of  the  class  of  Chemis- 
ivy,  who,  after  a full  examination  of  the  whole  subject,  as  I was 
informed,  reported  favourably  upon  the  application  and  recom- 
r.icuded  the  issue  of  Letters  Patent.  At  this  , stage  of  the 
' vroceeding,  the  (Commissioner  was  visited  by  the  Exaniiner-in- 
;hief  of  the  class  of  Agriculture,  Professor  I.  Brainerd,  of 
Oldo,  a very  distinguished  scientific  gentleman,  who  suggested 
iotbe  Commissioner  that  the  application  had  received  a wrong 
: : ference.;  that  it  should  have  been  referred  to  him  as  it  eon- 
r'orned  plants  and  animals,  which  were  intimately  associated 
wl'h  the  class  of  Agriculture  under  his  charge.  The  Commis- 
sioner replied,  that  it  concerned,  also,  Chemistry;  but  if  he, 
Professor  Brainerd,  desired  to  investigate  the  subject,  the 
issue  of  the  Letters  Patent  should  be  suspended  till  that  oppor- 
i unity  was  afforded  him — which  was  done.  I was  thereupon 
informed  of  it,  and  that  the  Commissioner,  in  view  of  the 
great  importance  of  the  application,  and  of  the  novelty  of  the 
principle-’  involved  in  it,  Avas  desirous,  before  proceeding 
further  in  the  issue  of  the  Letters  Patent,  to  send  to  my  farm 
in  this  vicinity,  Professor  Brainerd,  who,  with  ray  permission, 
would  examine  into  the  manner  in  which  my  experiments  had 
been  conducted,  and  particularly  investigate  the  whole  subject 
of  the  application.  O'n  the  receipt  of  this_  communication,  I 
wrote  to  the  Commissioner  of  Patents,  and  informed  him  that 
[ Avduld  be  very  glad  to  receive  Professor  Brainerd,  and  to  give 
him  every  information  and  afford  him  every  facility  tor  making 

ids  investigation  in  my  power. 

• \ ■ - 

A few  days  thereafter,  the  Professor  arrived  at  my  house  in 
Spruce  street ; and,  on  presenting  himself  to  me,  he  said : 

U-eiieral,  you  must  receive  this  visit  of  mine  as 'a  very  high 
■ ompliment,  since  the  Commissioner  of  Patents,  in  extremely 
rare  cases,  ever  sends  any  one  from  the  office  lor  information 
in  relation  to  an  application  for  a Patent ; for  he  requires  all 
^^uch  information  to  be  brought  to  him.  He  has,  however,  in 
' this  case  deviated  from  his  usual  course,  from  the  great  interest 
he  feels  in  your  alleged  discovery,  and  has  sent  me,  therefore,, 
to  make  the  necessary  inA'estigation.  For  myself,  I will  say, 
that  I have  no  prejudice  for  or  against  the  principles  announced 
in  your. startling  memoir,  and  I come  to  you  to  make  a fair, 
honest  and  impartial  examination  of  the  whole  matter.  If 
your  averments.  General,  shall  be  sustained  after  I shall 
have  examined  the  subject,  I aaIH  report  favourably  upon  your 


2; 


application,  and  your  Letters  Patent  will  be  issued  forth wiili. 
Should  I,  however,  have  any  doubts  in  the  matter  I will  report 
against  their  issue,  and  you  wull  not  get  your  Patent.”  Tu 
this  I replied,  “That  the  facts  in  the  case  must  furnish  thei] 
own  evidence,  and  I was  perfectly  satisfied  to  abide  by  his 
judgment  thereon,  whatever  it  might'be.”  We  then  proceeded 
to  my  farm,  where  the  professor  remained  three  days,  devotine- 
himself  to  a critical  examination  of  the  subjects  committed  V 
him  for  investigation.  ■ On  the  afternoon  of  the  third  day  w= 
visited  the  grapeiy,  as  he  had  often  done  before,  where  we 
met  three  professors  of  colleges,  who,  attracted  by  the  notices 
of  the  experiments  which  they  had  seen  in,  the  newspapers, 
had  come  to  the  farm  to  verify  for  themselves-  the  statemen,'  ? 
they  had  road.  For  purposes  of  ventilation  in  the  grapery,  1 
had  caused  to  be  removed  from  immediately  below  the  eave.^ 
on  the  southeastern  side  thereof,  for  the  whole  length  of  th  ; 
house,  two  panes  of  glass  in  width;  and  in  their  places  I had  in- 
troduced galvanized  iron  wire  cloth,  with  meshes  of  about  one 
quarter  of  an  inch  square.  The  vines  planted  on  the  outside 
.border,  and  trained  through  terra-cotta  pipes  into  the  grapery, 
along  its  walls  of  glass,  and  up  to  the  ridge  on  the  southeaster;^ 
side  of  the  grapery  had,  when  they  reached  this  wire  clo;b, 
in  their  growth  on  the  inside,  sent  lateral  branches  through 
its  meshes  into  the  outer  air,  which  had  grown  to  varyir  g 
lengths  of  ten,  twelve  or  fourteen  feet,  on  the  outside  of  th« 
grapery.  These  lateral  branches  were  covered  with  foliage — 
the  inside  branches  from  the  same  stems  extending  to  tho 
ridge  were  likewise  covered  with  the  densest  foliage;  but  the 
dittereuce  between  the  inside  and  outside  foliage  was  most 
distinctly  marked.  The  inside  leaves,  from  the  same  roots 
which  furnished  those  on  the  outside,  were  fully  six  or  eight 
inches  respectively  in  diameter,  of  the  deepest  green  coloup 
and  so  perfectly  healthy  that  they  seemed  more  like  wax  leaves 
tlian  natural  ones,  while  those  on  the  outside  of  the  grapery, 
though  abundant,  were  not  more  than  two  inches  in  diameter, 
of -a  pale,  sickly,  yellowish  colour,  indicating  a feeble  vitality. 

I called  the  attention  of  Professor  Brainerd  and  of  the  other 
professors  to  this  most  marked  difference  in  the  respective 
leaves  inside  and  outside,  and  they  all  united  in  the  opinion 
that  this  example  furnished  the  most  conclusive  illustration  of 
the  influence  of  blue  light  on  vegetation  that  could  be  produced 
under  any  circumstances.  Here  were  branches  of  vines  from 
the  same  roots,  covered  with  foliage,  deriving  their  nutriment 
from  the  same  sources,  the  outside  leaves  exposed  to  all  the 
influences  of  temperature,  light,  humidity  or  dryness  of  the 


30 


natural  atmosphere,  and  yet,  scarcely  one-fourth  of  the  size  'of 
their  relatives — those  on  the  inside ; andindicatiug  an  enfeebled 
and  transitory  existence.  While  the  latter,  revelling  in  the 
stimulating  forces  of  the  combined  sunlight  and  blue  light  of 
the  sky,  had  attained  not  merely  size,  but  also  an  exuberance 
of  vigor  which  excited  the  greatest  astonishment.  Professor 
Brainerd  gathered  some  of  the  leaves  from  the  outside  and 
inside  branches  of  the  same  vines,  which  he  took  with  him  ta 
the  Patent  Office  to  be  measured'  and  photographed.  The 
other  professors  did  likevdse  to  exhibit  to  their  respective 
classes. 

When  Professor  Brainerd  had  completed  his  examination, 
and  was  prepared  to  return  to  Washington,  he  said  to  me,^ 
“ General,  everything  that  you  have  alleged  on  this  subject  ot 
blue  light  is  confirmed ; I am  perfectlj'^  convinced  of  their 
truth.  On  my  return  to  Washington,  I will  make  a most 
favourable  report  on  your  application,  and  your  Letters  Patent 
'will  be  issued  foi’thwith.  I will  now  say  to  you,  that  before  I 
left  Washington,  the  officers  of  the  Patent  Office  discussed 
among  ourselves  your  application,  and  we  came  to  the  conclu- 
sion, unanimously,  that  if  my  investigation  should  establish, 
the  verity  of  your  statements  you  have  made  the.  most  import- 
ant discovery  of  this  century,  transcending  in  importance  even 
that  of  Morse’s  Telegraph,  which,  at  best,  furnished  only  a 
means  of  communication  with  distant  places,  while  your  dis- 
covery could  be  brought  home  to  every  living  object  on  the 
planet.  We  further  thought  that  your  patent  would  be  one 
of  the  most  valuable  that  had  ever  been  issued  in  the  United 
States.  I congratulate  you  upon  your  great  discovery.” 

The  Professor  accordingly  returned  to  Washington,  made 
his  report,  which,  as  he  said  it  would  be,  was  most  favourable; 
and  Letters  Patent  for  my  new  process  of  accelerating  the 
growth  of  plants  and  animals  were  issued  to  me  on  September 
26th,  1871. 

It  is  to  Moses,  the  lawgiver,  the  great  leader  of  the 
Israelites  in  their  Exodus  from  Esrypt,  in  their  passage  across 
the  Ked  Sea,  and  in  their  subsequent  residence  in  the  desert, 
that  we  are  indebted  for  our  knowledge  of  the  plan  of  the 
Deity  in  the  creation  of  the  world.  _ This  narrative  of 
Moses,  as  contained  in  the  book  of  Genesis,  has  been  received 
by  Christian  and  Jewish  peoples,  of  all  nations,  as  a faithful 
description  of  the  revelations  claimed  by  Moses  to  have  been. 


31 


made  to  him  by  the  Almighty  himself.  It  is  the  foundation 
of  their  religions^the  basis  *ou  which  their  spiritual  faiths 
rest.  . ■ 

Let  us  take  up  this  book  of  Genesis,  and  endeavour  to  dis- 
cover from  it, . illuminated  by  the  developments  of  modern 
science,  what  the  prevailing  idea  of  the  creative  mind  may 
have  been  in  establishing  the  physical  functions  of  the  planet 
on  which  we  live. 

In  the  first  chapter  of  Genesis,  we  read  the  first  four  verses 
as  follows,  viz  : ^ 

“1.  In  the  beginning  God  created  heaven  and  earth. 

“ 2.  And-the  earth  was  void,  and  empty,  and  darkness  was 
upon  the  face  of  the  deep,  and  the  Spirit  of  God  moved  on 
the  waters, 

“3.  And  God  said.  Be  light  made;  and  light  was  made. 

‘‘4.  And  God  saw  the  light  that  it  was  good,  and  he  divided 
the  light  from  the  darkness.” 

From  these  verses,  it  would  appear  that  the  materials  com- 
posing this  planet  were  created  and  assembled  in  darkness, 
and  lhat  the  first  physical  force  made  was  light — not  heat, 

. not  electricity,  not  magnetism — but  light,  which  we  shall  ' 
endeavour  to  show  is  the  almost  ommpotent  force,  which 
produces  them  all,  and  gives  form  and  motion  to  our  plane- 
tary system.  In  the  same  chapter,  in  the  6th  verse,  we  read, 

“ 6.  And  God.  said ; Let  there  be  a firmament  made  amidst 
the  waters,  and  let  it  divide  the  waters  from  the  waters.” 

And  in  the  7th  verse,  we  read  as  follows,  viz: 

“ 7.  And  God  made  a firmament,  and  divided  the  waters  ■ 
that  were  under  the  firmament  from  those  that  were  above 
the  firmament — and  it  was  so.” 

There  is  obscurity  in  this  verse,  since  in  the  following  verse, 
the  8th,  we  read, 

“ 8.  God  called  the  firmament  Heaven, — ^and  the  evenino- 
and  the  morning  were  the  second  day.”  How  in  the  1st  verse, 
it  is  stated,  “ In  the  beginning  God  created  heaven-  and 
earth;”  heaven  having  precedence  both  as  to  time  and  place 
in  the  creation.  In  the  8th  verse,  it.  would  read  as  if  there 
were  waters  above  the  heaven,  which  were  divided  by  the 


32 


firmament  from  those  that  were  on  the  earth.  _ We  may 
suppose,  therefore,  the  word  firmament,,  used  in  the  7th 
verse,  to  mean  the  atmosphere,  which  was  to  hold  in  sus- 
pension the  waters  contained  in  it  as  vapours,  clouds,  &c., 
thus  separating  them  from  the  waters  on  the  earth,  as  well  as 
the  infinite  space  above  the  atmosphere,  now  supposed  to 
contain  the  orbits  of  the  fixed  stars.  In  the  9th  verse,  the  dry 
oiid  appears,  and  the  waters  under  the  heaven  (probably 
tmosphere)  are  gathered  together  and,  in  the  10th  verse,  are 
e.alled  seas,  and  in  the  lltli  verse  God  said,  “ 11.  Let  the 
earth  bring  forth  the  green  herb,  and  such  as  may  seed,  ami 
; j:e  fruit  tree  yielding  fruit  after  its  kind  which  may  have 
seed  in  itself  upon  the  earth,  and  it  was  done. 

“12.  And  the  earth  brought  forth  the  green  herb,  and 
such  as  yieldeth  seed  according  to  its  kind,  and  the  tree  tliat 
beareth  fruit  having  seed,  each  one  according  to  its  kind,  and 
God  saw  that  it  was  good.” 

We  will  here  observe,  that  so  far  as  the  order  of  developing 
creation  had  gone,  light  was,  as  yet,  the  only  active  force 
which  had  been  brought  into  existence,  or  as  the  vei'se 
' xpressed  it,  “ and  light  was  made.”  Of  course,  it  must 
have  been  made  of  the  materials  which  composed  it.  There 
were,  at  that  period,  no  sun,  no  moon,  and  perhaps  only  the 
fixed  stars,  which  were  to  illuminate  the  heaven,  that  had 
been  created,  and  yet  light  was  made,  and  it  was  made  of  its 
materials,  and  l.>eing  made  its  attributes  were  at  oiice  called 
ii-to  use.  “ For  the  earth  brought  forth  tlie  green  herb,  and 
such  as  yieldeth  seed  according  to  its  kind,  and  the  tree  that 
beareth  fruit  having  seed,  each  one  according  to  its  kind.” 
hTo  herb  could  have  been  green  Avithout  light,  and  no  tree 
could  have  borne  its  fruit  In  darkness,  nor  . could  seed  have 
been  matured  Avithout  light,  and  yet  this  light  came  neither 
from  the  sun,  nor  the  moon,  modern  spectroscopes  to  the  con- 
trary potAvithstanding,  for  as  yet  neither  the  sun  nor  the  moon 
had  been  created. 

Hence,  we  can  understand  that  the  Creator,  in  directing 
that  light  first  of  all  should  be  made,  intended  to  constitute  a 
force  superior  to  all  other  forces,  for  it  is  by  light  that  they 
are  all  developed,  and  made  auxiliary  to  the  great  plan  of 
Creation. 

“14.  And  God  said,  Let  there  be  lights  made  in  the  firma- 
ment of  heaven,  to  diAude  the  day  an d'the  night,  and  let  them 
be  for  signs  and  seasons  and  for  days  and  years. 


“ 15.  To  shiue  in  the  firmament  of  heaven  and  to  ^ivo 
light  upon  the  earth,  and  it  was  so  done. 

“16.  And  God  made  two  great  lights,  a greater  light  to 
rule  the  day,  and  a lesser  light  to  rule  the  niglit,  and  the"^stars. 

“ 17.  And  he  set  them  in  the  firmament  of  heaven  to  shine 
upon  the  earth, 

“ 18.  And  to  rule  the  day  and  the  night,  and  to  divide  the 
light  and  the  darkness,  and  God  saw  that  it  was  good.” 

It  will  be  seen  from  these  verses,  that  the  ruling  intent  of 
the  Creator  was  to  furnish  light,  and  not  heat,  to  the  world  he 
was  bringing  into  existence — to  separate  the  day  from  the 
night — as  signs  and  for  seasons,  and  for  days  and  years,  to 
shine  in  the  firmament  of  heaven,  and  to  give  light  upon  the 
earth. 

These  then  are  the  varied  functions  to  be  performed  by  the 
sun,  moon,  and  stars,  hy  the  fiat  of  the  Creator. 

l\Iuch  Speculation  has  been  evoked,  in  the  inquiry  for  the 
source  of  that  light  that  was  ordered  to  be  made  previous  to 
the  making  of  the  two  great  lights,  the  sun  and  moon,  whicli 
he  set  in  the  firmament  of  heaven  to  shine  upon  the  earth. 
The  modern  revelations  of  the  telescope  in  disclosing  the 
character  of  the  more  distant  fixed  stars,  the  congregations  of 
stars  in  the  “ Milky  Way,”  in  the  nebulae  and  cloudlets  of 
lights,  furnish  an  answer  to  all  such  inquiries.  The  limited 
vision  of  Moses,  unassisted  by  the  telescope,  which,  in  his  day, 
had  no  existence,  would  not  have  permitted  him  to  compre- 
hend any  revelation  of  the  glories  of  the  world  of  astronomy, 
as  known  to  us  now ; and  hence,  no  such  revelation  was  made 
to  him.  He  was  only  instructed  partially  on  the  subject  of 
our  solar  system,  and  the  myriads  of  lights,  lesser  and  greater 
than  any  that  our  system  contains,  which  were  sending  theii' 
illumination  over  a boundless  world,  were  entirely  unimagiued 
by  him.  But  we  can  readily  fancy  with  our  increased  know- 
ledge of  astronomy,  whence  this  primeval  light  was  drawn. 
W e may  suppose  that  our  solar  system  was  the  last  created  of 
the  various  systems  which  stud  the  heavens  with  their  brilliant 
eftulgence,  and  that  the  materials  which  compose  it  were 
easily  gathered  from  the  mighty  masses  that  illuminated  the 
firmament. 

Our  astronomers  tell  us  of  the  infinite  star  depths,  in  which 
are  assembled  series  of  worlds  without  number,  all  circling 


34 


iirouml  their  respective  central  orbs,  and  all  moving  with 
inconceivable  velocity  towards  some  region  of  the  firmament 
so  remote  that  our  finite  intellectual  powers  fail  to  conceive 
of  it,  and  that,  in  this  grand  movement  of  worlds,  our  diminu- 
tive solar  system  has  ifs  allotted  part  and  pursues  its  inevitable 
destinv.  Hence  arises  the  reflection  that  when  our  system  shall 
approach  the  astronomical  horizon  of  this  mighty  systern  of 
worlds, 'and  shall  be  descending  helow  it,  as  our  sun  now  does 
l)elow  our  own  horizen,  another  solar  system,  transcending  in 
its  glories  anvthing  of  which  the  human  mind  can  conceive, 
sliail  arise  in  the  western  firmament  to  take  the  place  that  had 
been  vacated  by  our  own,  and  thus  system  after  system  shall 
he  circling  in  the  great  expanse  of  space,  till  time  shall  he  no 


more. 


We  must  have  a starting  point  in  our  discussion,  and  we 
will  begin  with  matter,  out  of  which  all  things  are  made. 

We  define  matter  to  be  anything  which  moves,  or  is  the 
subiect  of  motion.  W e prefer  this  definition  before  all  others, 
since  it  is  entirely  irrespective  of  human  existence,  and  has  no 
reference  to  human  impressions.  Motion  was  produced  long 
before  man,  and  will  continue  long  after  he  has  passed  away. 


When  matter  is  said  to  be  solid,  liquid  or  gaseous,  we 
convey  a very  inadequate  idea  of  its  composition  or  of  its 
c )udition.  The  microscope,  as  its  powers  are  bein^  developed, 
reveals  to  us  forms  and  conditions  of  matter  of  which  the  inost 
fm-tile  imagination  could  have  had  no  previous  conception. 
So  in  the  series  of  what  is  termed  created  matter,  we  have  but 
a verv  faint  image  of  a few  of  the  most  obvious  links  in  the 
chain  of  its  conditions,  while  we  know  and  can  know  nothing 
of  its  extreme  terminations,  its  greatest  density  and  most 
minute  tenuity.  But  we  may  conceive  that  whatever  moves, 
or  can  be  moved,  must  be  matter — according  to  this  definition, 
the  imponderables,  light,  heat,  electricity  and  magnetism,  are 
all  material  substances,  so  subtle  and  attenuated,  however, 
that  human  ingenuity  has  never  been  able  to  discover  then 
components,  or"  to  reduce  them  to  standards  of^mparison  by 
which  their  powers  might  be  measured.  We  might  go 
farther  and  assert  that  all  human  emotions  as  well  as  animal 
instincts  are  likewise  material,  since  our  only  cognizance  of 
them  is  made  apparent  to  us  through  our  senses,  concerning 
whose  materiality  there  can  be'  no  question.  Let  it  not  be 
supposed  that  this  idea  of  material  being  is  at  all  inconsistent 
with  an  aspiration  for  a future  life,  since  the  resurrection  of 


35 


the  material  body  is  as  much  a part  of  the  Christian’s  creed  as 
is  the  hope  of  his  immortality.  Moses  has  told  us  for  what 
jiurposes  the  suu  and  moon  and  stars  were  created  ; “ to  rule 
the  day  and  night,  and  to  divide  the  light  and  the  darkness, 
and  as  signs,  and  for  seasons,  and  for  days  and  years.”  JTow, 
it  is  a very  remarkable  thing,  that  Moses,  who  was  born  ia 
Goshen,  a province  of  Egypt,  who  passed  the  first  forty  years 
of  his  life  in  Egypt,  which  lies  between  north  latitude  32°  and 
22°,  and  57°  and  34°  east  longitude,  the  next  foi-ty  years  on 
the  borders  of  the  Desert,  and  the  last  forty  years  thereof  in  the 
wilderness  with  his  people,  should  have  omitted  to  assign  to- 
the  sun  the  heating  qualities  which  our  scientists  declare  it  to 

f possess  if,  in  fact,  the  sun  did  possess  such  powers,  and  the 
fact  had  been  revealed  to  him  by  the  Almighty. 

I ^lodern  discoveries  in  science  go  to  show  that  Moses  was. 
right  in  his  description  of  the  functions  of  those  luminaries. 

;■  We  may  imagine  the  astonishment,  amounting  almost  tO' 

' incredulity,  with  which  Moses  received  the  revelation  regard- 
ing the  attributes  of  the  sun,  moon  and  stars.  Living  in  the 
^ hot  climate  of  Egypt,  or  of  the  Desert,  whose  “ soil  is  fire,  and 
, whose  wind  is  flame,-”  and  termed'  “ burning  sands  of  the 
! Desert,”  from  their  great  heat,  to  what  other  source  could  he 
; . refer  this  terrible  heat  than  to  the  sun.  Yet  the  sun  is  de- 
L Scribed  to  him  as  a great  light,  not  a great  furnace,  not  a great 

' source  of  heat,  but  simply  as  an  illuminating  power.  When 

traveling  in  the  Desert,  and  overtaken  by  the  burning  Sirocco,. 
[ whose  blast,  like  that  from  a fiery  furnace,  obscuring  the  light 

7 of  the  sun  by  the  clouds  of  burning  sand  which  it  had  raised, 

[.  Closes  might  have,  by  a course  of  reasoning,  traced  a connection 
between  the  raging  tempest  and  the  sands  heated  by  the  sun, 

' and  thus  have  assigned  to  that  luminary  the  heating  power 
claimed  for  its  radiations.  He  might  even  have  been  familiar 
i with  the  tenets  of  the  predecessors  of  Zoroaster,  and  of  the 
fire  worshippers  in  Persia,  who  worshipped  that  great  orb  of 
light  as  the  source  of  earthly  heat,  but  if  so,  he  discarded 
j/  all  such  imaginings,  and  boldly  declared  “ that  it  is  the  greater 

I of  two  lights,  intended  to  separate  the  day  from  the  night ; as 
K.  signs,  and  for  seasons,  and  for  days  and  years  ; to  shine  in  the 

E firmament  of  Heaven,  and  to  give  light  upon  the  earth.” 

K Light  is  the  gireat  source  of.terrestrial  electricity,  magnetism 
H and  heat. 

K ■ Whatever  moves^  or  is  the  subject  of  motion,  is  matter. 


36 


"We  cannot  conceive  of  motion,  witliout  associating  with  the 
idea  an  object  to  be  moved.  Hence  light,  which  moves  with 
a velocity  of  which  ^ye  may  speak,  bi^  whicj  is  not  con- 
ceivable by  us,  is  composed  of  matter.  hen  the  Creator,  in 
his  beneficence,  first  displayed  the  rainbow  in  the  atmosphere, 
he  tam?ht  mankind  their  first  lesson  in  philosophical  analysis, 
lie  thus  showed  that  the  white-light  of  the  sun  was  not  a simple 
substance,  but  that  it  was  composed  of  seven  primarv  rays, 
which,  by  their  combinations,  produced  all  the  varying  tints  or 
colours  that  are  seen  in  nature,  and  yet  how  manv  myriads  ot 
years  have  passed  since  this  magnificent  spectacle  has  been 
•exhibited  to  man  before  any  one  ventured  to  impure  into  the 
simple  and  beautiful  lesson  which  it  taught.  Lven  yet,  what 
profound  ignorance  prevails  everywhere  in  connection  wit  i , 
the  iiifiuences  which  these  elementary  rays  develop. 

Light,  which  thrown  upon  the  photosphere  of  the  sun.  trom 
the  imiumerable  orbs  that  from  their  starry  depths  il  uiiiinate 
the  expanse  of  Heaven,  is  reflected  to  this  planet  with  a 
velocity  of  186,000  miles  per  second  of  time,  and  recpxires  about 
8 16-35  minutes  to  reach  the  earth  from  the  sun,  iiinetv-two 
millions  of  miles  distant.  Whatever  may  be  the  composition 
of  the  space  intervening  between  the  sun  and  the  earth  ou  - 
side  of  our  atmosphere,  as  we  are  taught  that  nature  abliom 
a vacuum,  it  must  be  composed  of  s^uiethnig  which  is  of 

matter.  Give  it  its  most  attenuated  form  and  call  it  ethei  it 
is  still  matter,  and  light,  which  is  also  composed  of  matter, 
however  subtle  it  may  be',  passing  through  it 
marvelous  speed,  must  produce  everywhere  enornioim  tiictioii. 
How  whenever  one  body  moves  in,  on,  under,  around,  or 
anoTher  body  in  contact  with  it,  such  motion  produces  friction. 
Friction,  derived  according  to  Webster,  from  the  Latin/nco,  to 
rub,  as  we  know  evolves  electricity,  and  it  is  His  electricit}  an . 
its  correlative  magnetism,  discovered  by  Oersted,  thc_  c e- 
brated  Danish  naturalist,  to  be  its  constant  accompanimeifi 
when  opposite  electrical  polarities  are  united,  thus  ^lerived 
which  form  those  tremendous  forces  of  nature  that 
everywhere  those  changes  in,  on  and  about  our  planet,  that 
meeLur  observation  at  every  instant.  _ 

Creator,  after  having  assembled  m their  respects  e po^it  o us 
the  materials  which  compose  the  planetary  and  ^^ehar  v orij^^^^ 
uttered  the  sublime  words,  “Let  Light  be  made,  calk, 
into  being  a power  which  became  the  generator  of  all  ti  e 
physical  forces  which  control  and  regulate  ^ 
for  a moment  imagine  the  radiant  reflection  of  luminou.  matter 


37 


from  every  part  of  the  photosphere  of  that  great  luminary,  the- 
sun,  which  in  its  magnitude  was  intended  to  illumine  and 
vitalize  all  animated  matter,  as  well  as  to  give  form  and  con- 
sistency to  whatever  had  been  created,  passing  from  every 
point  thereof  with  a velocity  of  186,000  miles  per  second, 
penetrating  through  planetary  and  stellar  spaces  which,  how- 
ever subtle  and  attenuated,  must  have  offered  some  resistance 
to  the  passage  of  this  material  light,  producing  everywhere  in 
its  passage  an  enormous  amount  of  friction,  and  with  it  elec- 
tricity and  magnetism.  Electricity,  by  the  junction  of  its 
opposite  polarities,  evolves  heat  and  also  imparts  to  all  sub- 
stances that  are  capable  of  being  invested  with  it,  magnetism. 
The  sun,  the  planets,  the  stars  and  all  the  bodies  that  stud  the 
expanse  of  heaven,  are  doubtless  all  magnets,  to  which  mag- 
netism was  imparted  when  the  Creator  uttered  in  heaven  the 
words  without  parallel  in  sublimity,  “Let  light  be  made.” 
This  then  is  the  origin  of  all  the  physical  forces  of  the  universe. 

' Let  us  consider  for  a moment  the  nature  of  heat,  and  it  will  be- 
apparent  that  terrestrial  heat  cannot  be  directly  derived  from 
tlie  sun. 

The  tendency  of  heat  is  always  to  ascend  into  the  atmos- 
pliere,  when  it  is  derived  from  combustion  on  the  surface  of 
the  earth,  or  from  radiation  within  it.  The  flame  of  a candle 
is  vertically  upward,  on  every  part  of  the  earth’s  surface,  when 
the  air  is  still.  The  eflbrt  of  heat  is  to  depart  from  its  source 
with  a rapidity  proportionate  to  the  intensity  of  the  combus- 
tion. This  is  a repellent  force — at  the  same  time  from  its 
being  associated  with  positive  electricity,  it  is  attracted  to  the 
upper  atmosphere  by  its  negative  electricity,  always  associated 
with  cold,  w'hich  is-  opposed  to  positive  electricity.  The 
diffusion  of  heat,  laterally  or  downwards,  is  very  inconsiderable, 
as  is  constantly  manifested  in  our  rooms,  where  the  fire  in  the 
grate  emits  very  little  heat  below  the  bottom  of  the  grate,  and 
parts  of  the  room  distant  from  the  fire  are  very  imperfectly 
he,ite(l  by  it.  The  sun  in  its  daily  course  being  above  the 
earth,  if  it  had  any  calorific  rays,  could  not  send  them  to  the 
earth  below  it,  through  a space  of  ninety-two  millions  of  miles, 
which,  according  to  calculations  of  Pouillet,  has  a temperature 
of  minus  142  degrees  of  Centigrade  thermometex’.  We  will 
illustrate  this  by  an  example  or  two.  During  our  late 
unhappy  sectional  war,  xit  the  siege  of  Fort  Sumter,  in  South 
Cax’olina,  General  Gilmore’s  heavy  guns  threw  their  enormous 
shells  into  the  city  of  Charleston,  four  xmd  a half  miles  distant. 
While  the  expansion  of  the  powder  in  the  chamber  of  these 


o-uns,  in  its  combustion  into  gases,  evolved  a power  wbieli 
tlirew  these  shells  so  great  a distance,  it  was  totally  inadequate 
to  drive  the  heat  disengaged  in  the  conversion  ot  the  powder 
into  these  propelling  gases  to  a greater  distance  trom  the 
muzzles  of  the  guns  than  thirty  feet.  It  ascended,  instanth 
on  leaving  the  guns,  into  the  upper  atmosphere,  attracted  by  an 
opposite  electricity.  Any  one  familiar  with  the  fire  of  artilleiy, 
must  have  observed  similar  efiects  regarding  the  heat  trom  the 
discharge. 

We  will  illustrate  this  by  an  example.  “ Mount  W ashington, 
in  the  White  Mountains,  in  Hew^  Hampshire,  is  in  north  iMitud'^ 
44°  16'  25",  and  in  west  longitude  trom  Greenwich  /I  16 
'26".  Its  elevation  above  tide  water  is  6,293  feet ; and  in 
altitude  it  is  the  second  highest  mountain  northward  ot  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico,  the  highest  mountain  thereof  being  Clingmaus 
Peak,  in  the  State  of  North  Carolina— which  is  6,707  teet 
above  tide  water. 

“ The  limit  of  the  growth  of  trees  on  the  north  side  of  Mount 
Washington  is  4,150  feet  above  tide  water.  The  climate  of 
Mount  \\"ashiugton  corresponds  with  that  of  the  middle  ot 
Greenland,  about  70°  of  north  latitude  or  26  further  north 
than  New  Hampshire. ' It  is  an  arctic  island  (so  to  speak)  in 
the  temperate  zone,  and,  on  account  of  its  great  elevation,  it 
exhibits  also  the  condition  of  the  atmosphere  where  tlie 
mercury  does,  not  rise  above  24  inches  in  the  barometer.  lor 
peculiar  interest,  therefore,  the  Mount  Washington  (meteoin- 
logical)  station  is  not  exceeded  by  any  point  within  the  arctic 
circle." 

It  was  on  this  mountain  that  a party  of  scientific  gentlemeri 
passed  the  winter  of  1870  and  1871,  amid  great  privations  and 
suffering,. for  the  purpose  of  investigating  the  physical  con- 
ditions of  the  atmosphere  and  mountain  at  that  great  elevation. 
“ Observation  shows  that  the  climate  of  any  country  becomes 
colder  in  proportion  to  the  height  of  the  land  above  the  sea. 
Thus  in  tropical  regions  there  may  be  an  arctic  climate  at  an. 
altitude  of  12,000  or  lo,000  feet. 

The  room  inhabited  by  these  gentlemen  was  in  the  south- 
west corner  of  the  railroad  depot,  about  20  feet  long,  11  teet 
wide  and  8 feet  high.  It  was  well  protected  trom  the  outer 
cold,  was  heated  by  two  stoves,  one  an  ordinary  cook  stove, 
the  other  a Magee  parlor  stove,  prized  for  its  marvelous  heating 
power.  Their  Journal  reports  as  tollows,  viz ; 


39 


^ " February  4th,  1871,  temperature  at  7 o’clock,  A.  M., — 33°; 

; at  9 o’clock,  P.  M.,  — 40°.  In  the  room  the  temperature  was 

^ +35°  and  sometimes  +60°.  To  do  this,  the  stoves  were  kept 

I at  a red  heat.  The  thermometer  hangs  5 feet  from  stoves,  the 

' temperature  10  feet  from  the  stoves  at  the  floor  was  12°,  in 

^ other  parts  of  the  room  the  temperature  was  65°  ; midnight, 

i wind  fully  up  to  100  miles  per  hour  and  northwest. 

j “February  5th,  some  of  the  gusts  of  wind  110  miles  per 

[■  hour;  at  3 o’clock,  A.  M.,  temperature  in  the  room  59°, 

‘ barometer  22.810  inches,  attached  thermometer  62°.  Yester- 

[ day,  barometer  22.508  inches.”  . 

i.  I7ow  let  us  see  what  this  means  : 5 feet  from  red  hot  stoves 
f ' the  thermometer  marked  60°,  10  feet  from  the  same  stoves  on 

t the  floor  the  thermometer  marked  12°,  being  a loss  of  48°  in  a 

S distance  of  5 feet  in  length  and  2 feet  below  the  sources  of 

^ heat.'  Now  at  that  rate  of  radiation  of  heat,  how  hot  must  the 

I sun  be  to  transmit  any  degree  of  heat  92  millions  of  miles  , 

J-  through  a temperature  of  — 142°  of  centigrade  to  this  planet, 

and  not  merely  to  this  earth  in  a column  of  heat  of  8,000  miles  in 
diameter  to  envelope  it,  but  also  to  difluse  its  heat  through  an 
' ellipsoid  of  ether,  whose  circumference  would  be  the  orbit  of 
the  earth  around  the  sun  ? But  the  actual  loss  of  heat  in  its 
^ descent  to  the  earth  (if  that  could  be  possible,  which  it  cannot 

f be,)  per  foot  would  be  immensely  more  than  is  stated  above,' 

tas  the  heat  would  have  to  pass  -through  space  chilled  to  — 142° 
of  centigrade  instead  of  in  a rOomheated  to  +65°  of  Fahrenheit. 
Again,"in  this  latitude  of  40°  north,  we  have  in  our  winters 
I fatls  of  snow  which  lie  upon  the  ground  sometimes  for  weeks, 

I with  the  sun  being  unable  to  make  any  impression  upon  it — 

I and  when  the  snow  does  begin  to  melt,  it  commences  with  the 

i:  layer  of  snow  in  contact  wdth  the  earth,  and  not  with  that  on 

[:  the  upper  surface  exposed  to  the  sun.  Our  farmers  all  know 

I that  when  their  fields  in  winter  are  covered  with  snoAV,  their 
I growing  crops  under  it  are  kept  warm,  though  no  ray  of  the 
t sun  could  reach  them  through  the  snoiw , and  they  anticipate 
r therefrom  a large  yield  in  the  ensuing  harvest.  If  terrestrial 
; heat  is  derived  dire'ctiy  from  the  sun,  how  is  this  fact  explained  ? 
i A gentleman  in  the  State  of  Maine,  during  the  early  part  of 

I the  last  winter,  when  the  ground  at  his  residence  was  deeply 

f covered  with  snow  in  many  places,  made  some  experiments  to 
[ ascertain  the  temperature  of  the  earth  under  the  snow.  He 
found  that  the  heat  increased  at  the  surface  of  the  earth  with 
the  depth  of  the  snow  above  it.  The  following  is  the  uccouu*, 
nz : 


40 


^^xpcrinionts  wci’e  made  in  the  winter  of  18^2— ^ 3,  with  a 
view  to  ascertain  how  far  the  soil  is  protected  from  cold  by 
snow.  For  fonr  successive  days  in  winter,  there  being  four 
inches  in  depth  of  snow  on  the  ground  on  a level,  the  average 
temperature,  immediately  above  the  snow,  was  found  to  he 
fourteen  degrees  of  Fahrenheit’s  thermometer  below  zero; 
immediately  beneath  the  snow  in  contact  with  the  earth,  it 
was  ten  degrees  above  zero;  being  an  increase  of  twenty-four 
degrees  of  temperature,  occasioned  by  a covering  of  the  earth 
with  four  inches  of  suoav;  and  under  a drift  of  snow  two  teet 
deep  the  temperature  Avas  tAventy-seven  degrees  above  zero ; 
making  an  increase  of  temperature  at  the  earth’s  surface  under 
two  feet  of  snow,  of  forty-one  degrees  of  Fahrenheit  over  the 
Temperature  of  the  air  just  above  the  upper  surface  of  the  suoav, 
iso  one  can  pretend  that  these  variations  of  temperature  were 
derived  from  the  sun.  Let  us  attempt  an  explanation  of  this 
phenomenon. 

It  is  thi?.  The  radiation  of  heat  from  the  interior  of  the 
earth,  positively  electrilied,  meeting  at  the  surface  of  the  earth 
with  ’the  snow  in  contact  Avith  it,  negatively  electrified,  the 
conjunction  of  these  opposite  polarities  of  electricity  evolves 
heat,  melting  the  under  layer  of  the  snow,  irrigating  the  plants 
under  it  Avith  water  moderately  Avarm,  and  keeping  the  earth 
from  being  frozen,  so  that  in  the  spring  folloAving,  when  the 
snow  had  disappeared,  the  plants  Avere  ready_  to  receive  the 
stimulating  infiuence  of  sunlight  and  the  blue  light  of  the  sky, 
of  Avhich  they  had  been  deprived  during  the  winter. 

Professor  Tyndall,  Avriting  of  Avhat  he  calls  solar  radiation, 
sa5^s:  “ ilever  did  I sutfer  so  much  from  solar  heat,  as  when 
descendino-  from  the  corridor  io  the  grand  glateau  of  Mont  Blanc 
on" the  13th  of  August,  1857.  Whilst  I sank  up  to  the  waist  in 
the  snoAV,  the  sun  darted  its  rays  upon  me  with  intolerable 
fierceness.  On  entering  into  the  shade  of  the  Dome  du  Goute, 
these  impressions  instantly  changed,  for  the  air  was  as  cold  as 
ice.  It  was  not  really  much  colder  than  the  air  traversed  by 
the  solar  rays,  and  I sutfered  not  from  contact  with  AA^arrn  air 
but  from  the  stroke  of  the  sun’s  rays,_  which  reached  me  after 
passing  through  a medium  as  cold  as  ice,” 

It  is  singular  that  to  so  learned  and  astute  a scientist  as  Pro- 
fessor Tyndall,  it  did  not  occur  that  if  his  sensations,  so  dis- 
tressino-  on  this  occasion,  were  derived  from  the  heat  of  the 
sun’s  fierce  rays,  that  he  could  not  have  Avalked  through  snoAV 
waist  deep,  in'^  such  heat,  without  the  snoAV  becoming  melted 


41 


by  the  same  heat  which  oppressed  him,  and  that  he  would 
have  been  swept  away  by  the  torrent  of  water  thus  produced 
by  the  melting  of  the  snow  by  this  great  heat;  but  it  does  not 
appear  that  the  snow  was  at  all  atfectcd  by  it,  while  the  water 
was  drawn  out  of  the  Professor  in  profuse  perspiration. 

I venture  upon  an  explanation.  The  heat  from  which  the 
Professor  suffered  came  from  his  own  body,  and  was  dei’ived 
from  electrical  action  of  sunlight  upon  his  dark  woolen  clothes, 
warmed  by  the  animal  heat  of  his  system.  He  was  sti-uggling 
through  deep  snow  in  an  atmosphere  of  icy  coldness.  The 
natural  heat  of  his  body,  ninet^’-eight  degrees  of  temperature 
of  Fahrenheit,  was  greatly  increased  by  the  muscular  efforts 
he  was  maldng  in  his  descent  of  the  glacier.  His  woolen 
clothes  had  become  positively  electrified  by  the  heat  of  his 
body.  The  strong  sunlight  of  August  having  passed  through 
the  cold,  dry  ether  of  planetary  space  and  the  upper  atmos- 
phere of  the  earth,  by  its  friction  with  them  was  negatively 
electrified,  and  falling  upon  his  warm  body  and  clothes,  posi- 
tively electrified,  increased  heat  was  evolved  in  and  around 
his  person,  and  his  sufferings  were  intensified.  As  soon  as  he 
left  the  sunlight,  his  clothes,  by  induction,  became  negatively 
electrified  and  the  temperature  of  his  body  was  soon  lowered, 
and  his  sufferings  from  heat  ceased. 

Again,  there  is  no  heat  in  the  moon,  which' proves  that  the 
moon  has  not  an  atmosphere,  as  it  also  proves  that  there  is  no 
heat  in  the  sun ; for  if  there  was  an  atmosphere  about  the 
moon  the  sun’s  light  penetrating  it  and  producing  friction  by 
the  contact  with  it  would  evolve  electricity,  which  uniting 
with  the  opposite  electricity  of  the  moon’s  atmosphere  would 
produce  heat,  but  no  such  effect  has  been  perceptible  with  the 
most  delicate  instniments.  Besides,  if  there  was  heat  in  the 
rays  of  the  sunlight,  that  heat  would  be  reflected  with  that 
light  from  the  moon’s  surface  to  the  earth,  which  we  know  is 
not  the  case, 

JTow,  if  the  sun  possessed  heat,  and  could  force  it  down- 
wards to  the  earth,  which,  according  to  our  knowledge  of  the. 
laws  of  heat,  is  impossible,  we  could  have  no  clouds  in  our 
atmosphere,  as  from  the  absorbing  power  of  gases  of  heat  the 
clouds  would  be  so  expanded  and  attenuated  by  the  absorbed 
heat  that  they  never  could  be  formed. 

The  sun  is  a great  magnet,  as  are  all  the  planets  of  the  solar 
svstem,  and  it  is  by  their  magnetism  and  not  by  their  weight 


or  gravitation  that  their  motions  in  tlieir  respective  ori)its  are 
regulated  by  the  greater  magnetism  of  the  sun.  Is  ow  as  mag- 
netic attraction  or  repulsion  varies  inversely  as  the  squares  oi 
the  distances,  svhich  relation  has  been  heretofore  attributed  to 
gravitation,  it  is  not  difficult  to  assign  to  magnetism,  iii  its 
attraction  and  repulsion,  the  forces  which  have  heretofore  kepi 
and  now  keep  our  solar  system  in  its  various  motions,  nor  need 
we  hesitate  to  conceive  that  all  the  motions  of  infinite  systems,  of 
suns  and  stars,  of  nebulas,  and  cometary  and  meteoric  matter, 
are  in  like  manner  regulated.  The  meteoric  matter  whicli. 
has  fallen  to  the  earth,  has  been  found,  when  examined,  to  be 
highly  magnetic. 

If  the  sun  is  a magnet,  there  ts  only  sufficient  heat  generated 
in  its  interior  by  opposite  electricities  to  cause  its  daily  rota- 
fion  on  its  axis,  and  it- cannot  be  an  incandescent  body,  since 
magnetism  is  destroyed  by  heat. 

"Wherever  there  are  differences  of  temperature,  there  are 
opposite  electricities-— one  electricity  being  always  associated 
with  what  is  called  heat  while  the  opposite  electricity 
accompanies  cold.  These  terms  of  heat  and  cold  are  mere 
expressions  of  relative  differences  in  varied  temperatures,  with- 
out regard  to  the  intensity  of  either  condition. 

Professor  Tyndall,  in  his  book  on  “ The  Forms  of  Water  in 
Clouds  and  Rivers,  Ice  and  Glaciers,”  has  given  what  he  con- 
siders explanations  of  many  physical  phenomena  connected 
with  his  subjects,  attributing  to  radiations  of  solar  heat  the. 
changes  and  transformations  Avhich  he  describes.  'With  great 
deference  to  so  learned  and  distinguished  an  authority,  I take 
occasion  to  offer  other  explanations  of  the  caipes  of  the 
jffienomena  alluded  to,  which  seem  to  me  as  being  more  in  • 
accordance  with  our  knowledge  of  general  physics. 

In  his  article  on  “ Mountain  Condensers,”  he  says : “Imagine 
a southwest  wind  blowing  across  the  Atlantic  towards  Ireland. 
In  its  passage  it  charges  itself  with  aqueous  vapour.  In  the 
south  of  Ireland  it  encounters  the  mountains  of  Kerry ; the 
highest  of  these  is  Magillicuddy’s  Reeks,  near  Killarney.^  Row 
the  lowest  stratum  of  this  Atlantic  wind  is  that  which  is  most 
fully  charged  with  vapour.  When  it  encounters  the  base  of  the 
Kerry  Mountains,  it  is  tilted  up  and’  fiows  bodily  over  them. 
Its  load  of  vapour  is  therefore  carried  to  a height,  it  expands 
on  reaching  the  height,  it  is  chilled  in  consequence  of  the 
exoansion,  and  comes  down  in  copious  showers  of  rain.  From 


4:0 


■this,  ill  fact,  arises- the  luxuriant  vegetation  of  Killarnej;  to 
this  indeed,  the  lakes  owe  their  water  supply.  The  cold 
crests  of  the  mountain  also  aid  in  the  work  of  condensation.” 

Let  us  examine  this.  The  tilting  up  of  the  masses  of  cloud 
on  coming  in  contact  with  the  face  of  the  mountain  is  the 
resultant  of  the  impact  of  two  forces,  one  being  that  of  the 
wind  from  the  southwest  with  any  given  velocity  from  twenty 
miles  per  hour  to  that  of  eighty  or  one  hundred  miles  per  hour ; 
the  other,  tlye  static  force  of  the  resistance  of  the  mountain 
itself ; the  diagonal  of  these  two  forces  is  the  tilting  up  of  the 
cloud  after  impact.  ISTow  these  two  great  masses  of  cloud  and 
mountain,  oppositely  electrified,  when  they  come  together  in 
contact  produce  great  friction  of  their  molecules,  which  friction 
evolves  positive  electricity  from  the  higher  temperature  of  the 
southwest  wind;  this  positive  electricity  thus  evolved  rushes 
into  conjunction  with  the  opposite  electricity  of  the  atmosphere, 
producing  heat,  which  heat  being  absorbed  by  the  air  holding 
the  water  in  suspension  communicates  to  it  positive  electricity, 
and  the  air  so  electrified  is  attracted  by  the  negative  electricity 
of  the  upper  atmosphere,  carrying  it  up  and  by  expansion  so 
comminuting  the  particles  of  air  that  they  can  no  longer  con- 
taiti  the  globules  of  water  they  before  held  in  suspension, 
which  latter  thus  released  then  begin,  being  attracted  by  the 
positive  electricity  of  the  earth,  to  fall  as  rain  oppositely 
electrified,  and  it  is,  therefore,  these  electricities  thus  excited 
with  the  heat  which  is  evolved  by  their  conjunction  and  the 
rain  charged  with  ammonia  and  carbonic  acid  gas  which  furnish 
the  stimulants  to  the  remarkable  vegetation  of  Killarney. 
During  the  prevalence  of  these  rain  bearing  clouds,  driven 
across  the  Atlantic  by  the  southwest  winds  upon  the  above 
mentioned  mountains,  the  sun  must  be  obscured  by  them,' 
and  hence  there  can  be  no  I’adiations  of  solar  heat  to  expand 
the  air  of  the  clouds  after  their  impact  with  the  mountains, 
and  they  have  been  tilted  up  in  their  further  progress  over  the 
crests  of  the  mountains. 

A similar  explanation  covers  the  example  the  Professor  gives 
of  a heavy  fall  of  rain  or  snow  in  the  Alps,  while  the  sky  is 
clear  and  blue  over  the  plains  of  Italy — while  the  wind  is  bldxcmg 
■over  the  plains  to  the  Alps.  The  warm  wind,  positively  electrified 
and  holding  water  in  STispension,  coming  in  contact  with  the 
negative  electricity  of  the  cold  Alps,  and  producing  friction 
by  the  impact,  evolving  more  positive  electricity  to  combine 
■with  the  negative  electricity  of  the  atmosphere  at  that  great 


* 


44 


clcvatiou,  increases  tlie  lieat,  and  by  it  expands  tbe  air  of 
the  clonds  so  much  that  it  can  no  longer  hold  the  globules  of 
water  held  by  it  in  suspension.  The  heated  and  expanded  air, 
attracted  to  the  still  higher  atmosphere  from  its  greater  nega- 
tive electricitv,  separates  from  the  water  it  before  held,  A\hile 
(he  water  having  lost  its  heat  by  the  superior  capacity  of  the 
air  to  absorb  it,  becomes  negatively  electrified  and  is  attracted 
to  the  earth  by  its  positive  electricity — hen'ce  the  rain  fall. 


Professor  Tvndall  also  states  in  the  same  work,  “that  the 
nnconfined  aii’  heated  at  the  earth’s  surface,  and  ascending  by 
its  lio-htness,  must  expand  more  and  more,  the  higher  it  rises 
in  the  atmosphere,”  and  that  the  ascending  “air  is  chilled  by  its  - 
expansion.  Indeed  this  chilling  is  one/Wurce  of  the  coldness 
of  the  higher  atmospheric  regions.”  It  strikes  me  that  this 
explanation  is  not  correct.  In  the  first  place  the  ascent  of 
heated  air  in  the  upper  atmosphere  has  a limit  beyond  which 
it  cannot  pass.  Secondly,  it  ascends  not  by  its  lightness  but 
bv  the  attraction  of  the  negative  electricity  of  the  upper 
atmosphere  for  the  heated  air,  ivhich  is  oppositely  electrified. 
In  its  upward  course  it  loses  its  heat  by  radiation  and  with  it 
its  positive  electricity— and  by  induction  becomes  negatively 
electrified  with  the  air  whose  altitude  it  has  reached— nor  is 
this  chilling  bv  expansion,  as  he  terms  it,  one  source  ot  the 
coldness  of  the  upper  atmosphere.  That  coldness  associated 
with  negative  electricity  is  derived  from  the  ether  m which 
the  atmosphere  as  well  as  the  earth  is  continually  revolving, 
that  ether  has  a temperature,  according  to  Fouiliet,  ct 
of  Centigrade  thermometer,  and  our  upper  atmosphere  in 
contact  with  this  ether  receives  from  it,  by  induction,  both  its 
(■old  and  its  negative  electricity,  and  the  atmosphere  itseii  is 
kept  in  its  place  as  an  envelope  of  the  earth  by  the  positive 
electricity  of  the  earth  and  the  opposite  electricity 
atmosphm’e.  The  snow  line  from  the  equator,  (15,000  feet 
above  the  equator  to  the  60°  of  north  latitiide,  where  it 
coincides  with  the  earth,)  being  the  dividing  line  between  these 
two  opposing  electricities.  . 

The  Professor  gives  another  example  of  the  air  being  chilled 
bv  its  expansion,  as  follows,  viz  : “ with  a condensing  syringe 
you  can  force  air  into,  an  iron  box  furnished  with  a stop  cock, 
to  w'hich  the  syringe  is  screwed.  Do  so  till  the  densitj  of  the 
air  within  the  box  is  doubled  or  trebled.  Immediately  after 
this  condensation,  both  the  box  and  the  air  within  it  are  warm, 
and  can  be  proved  to  be  so  by  a proper  thermometer,  bimply 


4.:= 

turn  the  cock  and  allow  the  compressed  air  to  stream  into  the 
atmosphere.  The  current,  if  allowed  to  strike  a thermometer 
visibly  chills  it,  even  the  hands  feel  the  chill  of  the  expanding 

• 5 > 

air. 

J^ow  for  another  explanation  different  from  the  Professor’s. 
The  air  in  the  iron  box  had  become  heated  by  the  friction  of 
it  with  the  sides  of  the  bo.x ; that  friction  evolved  positive 
electricity  associated  with  the  heat;  on  turning  the  cock  and 
allowing  the  heated  air  to  escape  into  the  atmosphere,  the  heat 
and  the  positive  electricity  both  left  the  escaping  air  with  the 
velocity  of  lightning,  rushing  into  the  oppositely  electrified  air 
in  the  upper  atmosphere,  and  the  air  that  reached  the  ther- 
mometer deprived  of  its  heat  i-educed  its  temperature.  There 
is  also  an  inconsistency  in  the  explanation  of  the  Professor 
in  producing  heat  by  condensation  in  his  iron  box,  while  he 
produces  rain  by  the  condensation  of  the  clouds  by  cold  in  the 
upper  atmosphere.  This  reminds  one  of  the  fable  of  .^soj), 
in  which  a satyr  invited  into  a husbandman’s  hut,  blew  upon 
his  hot  broth  as  he  said  to  cool  it  before  eating  it,  and  again 
blew'  his  breath  upon  his  fingers  to  warm  them  on  coming  into 
the  house  from  the  cold  outside  air.  The  husbandman  turned 
the  satyr  out  of  dooi’s,  as  he  could  not  comprehend  how  any 
one  could  blow  hot  and  cold  from  the  same  breath. 

If  compression  of  the  atmosphere  produces  heat,  condensa- 
tion, which  is  merely  another  form  of  expression  for  the  same 
thing,  cannot  produce  cold.  If  cold  condenses,  why  does  it 
not  condense  the  air  in  the  upper  atmosphere  where  the 
greatest  cold  prevails,  and  the  air  is  veiy  dry,  rarefied  and 
attenuated?  According  to  the  theory  of  condensation  by  cold, 
the  air  should  be  very  much  more  dense  at  great  elevations 
above  the  earth,  than  it  is  at  the  surface  of  the  ocean,  but  the 
reverse  is  known  to  be  the  case.  The  higher  in  the  atmos- 
phere a balloon,  inflated  with  hydrogen  gas,  ascends,  the  more 
the  gas  becomes  expanded  by  the  rarefaction  of  the  atmos- 
phere, w’hich  shows  that  the  cold  of  the  upper  atmosphere 
cannot  condense  the  gas  in  opposition  to  the  expansive  influ- 
ence of  the  rarefied  atmosphere  at  great  elevations.  Ice  water 
poured  into  a glass  tumbler  in  the  heat  of  summer,  causes  a 
deposit  of  drops  of  water  on  the  outside  of  the  tumbler 
resembling  dew,  w’hich  is  the  result  of  a conjunction  of 
opposite  electricities,  the  glass  and  the  air  within  and  around 
it  being  warm  and  positively  electrified,  while  the  ice  water  is 
negatively  electrified.  Their  conjunction  evolves  heat,  w'hich 


46 


ia  absorbed  by  the  molecules  of  air,  bolding  in  suspension  tbe 
humidity  of  the  atmosphere ; these  molecules,  so  heated,  ascend 
immediately  with  inconceivable  rapidity  into  the  upper  atmos- 
phere, attracted  by  its  opposite  negative  electricity,  while  the 
globules  of  water  thus  released  from  their  suspension  in  the 
air  on  the  outside  of  the  glass,  being  now  negatively  electrified, 
are  attracted  by  the  vitreous  or  positive  electricity  of  the  glass 
tumbler  and  are  deposited  on  it. 

On  the  thirty-first  day  of  March,  A.  D.,  1872,  I visited  my 
farm  to  give  directions  to  apply  heat  to  start  the  growth  of  the 
vines  in  my  grapery,  at  the  commencement  of  the  season. 
The  weather  was  veiy ' cold,  patches  of  ice  and  snow  lay  in 
places  on  the  fields,  which  the  sun,  shining  with  great  brilliancy 
through  a remarkably  clear  atmosphere,  was  unable  to  soften 
or  melt.  No  semblance  of  cloud  or  vapour  was  anywhere 
visible.  In  the  open  air,  protected  from  sunlight,  the  ther- 
mometer (Fahrenheit’s)  marked  34  degrees,  two  degrees  above 
the  freezing  point  of  water.  On  entering  the  grapery,  in  which 
there  had  been  no  artificial  heat  from  fuel  of  any  kind  for 
the  space  of  nearly  a year,  mj’  son  and  myself  were  astonished 
at  the  great  heat  that  there  was  within  it.  On  examining  the 
thermometer  which  hung  on  one  of  the  middle  posts  of  the 
grapery,  completely  sheltered  from  the  sunlight,  about  four 
ieet  from  the  floor,  we  were  amazed  to  find  that  it  marked  one 
hundred  and  ten  degrees  of  Fahrenheit.  Here  was  an  increase 
of  seventy-six  degrees  of  temperature  over  that  of  the  outside 
air,  and  produced  by  a film  of  glass  not  exceeding  one-six- 
teenth of  an  inch  in  thickness,  but  associated  as  blue  and 
plain  glass.  This  extraordinary  increase  of  temperature,  mani- 
fested the  supreme  wisdom  of  the  Creator  in  kindling  this 
heat  at  the  surface  of  the  earth,  where  it  was  needed,  by  rays 
of  light  passing  through  a denser  medium  than  air,  instead  of 
sending  heat  from  the  sun  through  ninety-two  millions  of 
miles  of  ether  at  a temperature  of  —142  degrees  of  Centigrade 
thermometer,  in  the  passage  through  wdiich  so  much  of  the 
said  heat  would  have  been  lost  by  radiation. 

I have  had  many  occasions  to  observe  since  that  date,  that 
during  the  passage  of  strong  sunlight  through  the  blue  and 
plain  ”glass  of  the  grapery,  the  temperature  through  the  day, 
within  the  grapery^  varied  from  one  hundred  degrees  to  one 
hundred  and  fifteen  degrees,  while  that  without,  according  to 
the  seasons  of  the  year,  at  the  same  times  of  the  day  would 
range  from  thirty-two  degrees  upward  to  sixty  degrees  or 
sixty -five  degrees. 


47 


During  the  winter  of  1871  and  1872,  which,  in  this  city,  was 
a very  cold  and  rigourous  one,  two  ladies  of  my  family 
residing  on  the  nortlieru  side  of  Spruce  streets  cast  of  Broad 
street,  in  this  city,  who,  at  my  suggestion,  had  caused  blue 
glass  to  be  placed  in  one  of  the  windows  of  their  dwelling, 
associated  with  plain  glass,  informed  me  that  they  hful 
ol)served  that  when  the  sun  shone  through  those  associated 
glasses  in  their  window,  the  temperature  of  the  room,  though 
in  mid-winter,  was  so  much  increased  that  on  many  occasioTis 
they  had  been  obliged  during  sunlight  to  dispense  entirely 
with  the  .fire  which,  ordinarily,  they^kept  in  their  room,  or 
when  the  fire  was  suffered  to  remain,  they  found  it  necessary 
to_  lower  the  upper  sashes  of  their  windows,  wdrich  were 

wdthout  the.  blue  glass,  in  order  to  moderate  the  oppressive 
heat.  ii- 

^ These  examples  go  to  illustrate  the  remark  of  a distinguished 
(derman  scientist,  made  to  a friend  of  mine  after  he  had  read 
an  account  ot  my  experiments  with  blue  light  on  animal  and 
vegetable  life.  He  said,  “ that  the  discovery  o"f  this  extraordinary 
influence  was  destined  to  produce  the  most  important  and 
beneficial  results  on  the  comfort  and  happiness  of  mankind 
throughout  the  civilized  world.  That  fuel  was  everywhere 
recognized  as  one  of  the  most  indispensable  elements  of  social 
and  domestic  economy.  That  it  is,  particularly  in  Europe, 
very  expensive  from  its  scarcity,  which  is  becoming  greater 
every  year  with  its  annual  consumption,  and  in  the^'narthern 
parts  of  Europe,  furs,  skiiTs  of  animals  and  the  down  of 
aquatic  birds  are  extensively  worn,  sometimes  with  two  or 
three  suits  at  once  ot  clothing,  in  order  to  preserve  the  animal 
heat  of  the  body,  owing  to  the  great  costliness  of  fuel  and  the 
severity  of  the  cold. 

“ That  even  in  England,  apprehensions  are  being  expressed  of 
an  exhaustion  of  their  coal  mines  in  the  not  distant  future. 
Now  since  this  wonderful  discovery  of  General  Pleasonton,  of 
the  influence  of  the  blue  light  of  the  sky  in  developing  animal 
and  vegetable  life,  which  is  largely  due  to  the  heat  and  elec- 
tricitv  developed  by  the  passage  of  sunlight  through  these 
associated  blue  and  plain  glasses,  I am  of  the  opinion  that 
during  sunshine,  for  many  hours  in  the  day,  by  means  of  blue 
and  colourless  glass  arranged  together  in*^  doors  and  windows 
exposed  to  the  sun,  sufficient  heat  can  be  evolved  to  enable 
families,  and  work  people  in  factories,  to  dispense  with  a large 
proportion  of  the  fuel  that  they  have  heretofore  been  oblio-ed 


4:- 


to  use.  Let  us  suy  that  ono-lnilf  of  the  fuel  heretofore 
required,  can  be  saved  by  thus  utilizing  sunlight,  and  von  will 
begin  to  comprehend  how  vast  will  be  the  bencltt  derived  to 
mankind  in  the  economy  of  fuel  alone,  by  this  discovery  of 
General  Pleasonton.”  • 

I have  said  that  while  the  rays  of  the  sun’s  light  were  one 
of  the  causes  of  terrestrial  heat,  yet  there  is  no  heat  in  them.. 
This  can  be  proved  by  any  one,  in  the  follo^ving  experiment, 
viz:  During  winter,  when  the  ground  is  covered  with  snow, 
and  the  temperature  of  the  open  air  is  at  zero  of  Fahrenheit’s 
thermometer,  it  will  be  found  that  the  sun,  however  brightly 
shining,  cannot  melt  the  snow  or  ice  on  which  it  may  shine. 
Take  now  a piece  of  black  or  brown  silken  or  woolen  cloth  oi’ 
any  form  and  of  convenient  size,  and  place  it  on  the  snow  in 
the  shade  where  the  sun  does  not  reach  it  with  his  rays.  Tin- 
snow  will  not  be  melted  under  this  cloth,  which  will  have  th< 
same  temperature  as  the  snow ; hence  it  is'obvious  that  therf 
is'  no  heat  either  in  the  sunlight  which  could  not  melt  the 
snow,  nor  in  the  coloured  cloth  whose  temperature  was  the 
saine  as  the  shaded  snow  on  which  it  had  been  placed ; now 
take  up  the  cloth,  and  place  it  on  the  snow  where  the  sun  can 
shine  upon  it.  Let  us  observe  the  effect  of  thi.s  new  position  : 
the  rays  of  the  sun  moving  with  a velocity  of  186,000  mile.s 
per  second  are  suddenly  arrested  by  this  cloth,  which  they 
cannot  penetrate.  This  sudden  stoppage  of  velocity  produces 
friction,  by  the  impact  of  the  rays  of  light  upon  the  cloth; 
electricity  is  evolved  by  the  friction,  having  a polarity  opposed 
to  that  of  the  cloth;  instantly  these  opposite  electricities  rush 
together,  pi’oducing  heat,  warming  the  cloth  and  melting  the 
snow  immediately  under  the  cloth,  by  which  the  cloth  begins 
to  sink  below  the  level  of  the  snow,  and  if  it  shall  be  allowed 
to  remain,  it  will  melt  the  snow  under  it  till  the  cloth  shall 
rest  upon  the  ground  beneath,  clear  of  the  snow,  and  the  sur- 
rounding snow  shall  enclose  the  cloth,  of  its  exact  size  and 
form. 

From  this  experiment,  we  conclude  that  the  heat  which 
melted  the  snow  under  the  cloth  was  not  derived  from  the  sun 
as  heat,  but  that  the  electricity  produced  by  the  impact  of  the 
sun’s  rays  with  the  cloth  oppositely  electrified,  through  friction, 
evolved  the  heat  which  melted  fhe  snow. 

Ffow  suppose  that  instead  of  a single  piece- of  this  cloth 
having  been  placed  upon  the  snow,  you  have  put  a series  of  pieces 


49 


of  the  same  cloth  upon  the  snow.  The  same  principle  applies 
hut  a different  action  is  observed.  The  cloth  is  a bad  con- 
ductor of  heat  as  well  as  of  electricity,  consecpiently  the  heat 
evolved  bv  the  conjunction  of  the  opposite  electricities  produced 
by  the  friction  of  the  rays  of  sunlig-ht  by  impact  on  the  cloth 
with  the  opposite  electricity  of  the  cloth,  cannot  descend 
through  the  cloth  to  an}-  depth,  being  contrary  to  the  laws  of 
heat,  but  it  immediately  ascends  into  the  atmosphere  and 
escapes,  vehile  the  edges  of  the  series  of  pieces  of  cloth  in 
■contact  with  the  snow  become  warmed  by  the  conjunction  of 
the  opposite  electricities,  produced  by  the  friction  of  the  ravs 
of  light  with  the  edges  of  the  cloth  and  the  cloth’s  electricity, 
and  soon  melt  the  snow  in  contact  with  them,  till  the  pieces  of 
cloth  are  left  high  and  dry  above  the  snow  which  surrounds 
them. 

Glaciers— their  Origin,  Fosition,  Duration,  Changes  and  Move- 
Much  has  been  written  on  these  subjects,  and  many 
distinguished  scientists  have  been  greatly  exercised  to  give  a 
satisfactory  explanation  of  the  phenomena  they  have  witnessed 
in  connection  with  them. 

It  seems  to  me  that  glaciers  are  formed  in  the  regions  of 
perpetual  snow  by  the  deposition  of  snow  in  the  valleys  of  the 
lofty  mountains  where, they  exist;  clouds  laden  with  vapour 
wdien  they  reach  the^  neighbourhood  of  the  mountains  whose 
valleys  are  filled  with  glaciers,  being  positively  electrified 
encounter  the  negative  electricity  of  the  higher  atmosphere. 
These  opposite  electricities  meet  in  conjunction,^  heat  is 
evolved  the  air  associated  with  water  as  vapour  in  the  clouds 
being  thus  heated,  is  rarefied  and  expanded  to  such  an  extent 
that  it  can  no  longer  retain  its  water,  (while  it  ascends  rapidlr 
into  the  upper  atmosphere  attracted  bi’  its  negative  electricit}'  ) 
which  on  being  liberated  from  the  air  that  held  it  as  vapour  is 
converted  by  the  surrounding  low  temperature  of  its  great 
altitude  into  flakes  of  snow,  which  having  an  opposite 
magnetism  to  the  earth  are  attracted  downward  to  it,  and  are 
at  the  same  time  repelled  from  the  height  where  they  are 
formed  by  the  opposite  magnetism  pre%miling  there.  The 
crystallization  of  these  snow  flakes  is  made  in  a vacuum, 
produced  by  the  escape  of  this  heated  and  rarefied  air,  and  by 
absorbing  the  magnetism  which  is  developed  by  the  con- 
junction of  the  opposite  electricities  of  the  clouds  and  the 
atmosphere  as  they  come  together  in  contact,  these  mao-netic 
snow  flakes  transfer  it  to  the-earth  to  replace  the  macrnetism 


■which  is  constantly  leaving  the  earth  in  evaporations  to  escape 
into  the  upper  atmosphere. 

This,  then,  in  all  probability,  is  the  origin  of  glaciers.  The 
successive  snow  falls  in  the  upper  valleys  of  tliese  elevated 
regions,  by  their  magnetic  attraction  to  the  earth,  serve  to' 
pack  the  snow,  and  to  compress  the  lower  portions  of  it  into 
ice  of  greater  or  less  density,  according  to  its  elevation  in  the 
atmosphere  and  the  depth  of  the  valleys  in  which  the  glaciers 
are  formed.  The  effect,  therefore,  is  that  the  bottom  of  the 
glacier  is  ice,  while  the  upper  part  of  it  is  snow,  termed  neve. 

Crevasses  are  .fissures  of  various  depths  and  widths  in  the 
glacier,  whose  formation  Professor  Tyndall  attributes  to  the 
effect  of  the  solar  radiation  of  heat  upon  the  glaciers.  lie  says, 
in  his  book  on  “ The  Forms  of  "Water,”  &c.,  page  100,  “first, 
then,  you  arc  to  know  that  the  air  of  our  atmosphere  is  hardly 
heated  at  all  b,y  the  rays  of  the  sun,  whether  visible  or  invisible ; 
the  air  is  highly  transparent  to  all  kinds  of  rays,  and  it  is  only 
the  scanty  fraction  to  which  it  is  not  transparent  that  expend 
their  force  in  warming  it.” 

I have  shown  that  heat  ascends  in  our  atmosphere  by  the 
attraction  of  the  positive  electricity  Avith  which  it  is  always 
associated,  by  the  negative  electricity  of  the  colder  air  in  the 
upper  regions  of  the  atmosphere,  and  by  its  repulsion  from 
the  earth  by  its  positive  electricity  ; it  is,  therefore,  contrary 
to  the  laws  of  heat  that  the  , sun  should,  can  or  could  transmit 
ra;js  of  heat  downward  to  this  planet,  and  as  these  heat  raA^s 
can  not  be  so  transmitted,  they  are  therefore  not  present  to  bo 
absorl.ied  by  the  snoAV  of  the  glacier  or  on  the  mountains.  On 
page  98  of  the  same  book,  he  says:  “ we  have  wrapped  up  our 
chain  and  are  turning  homewards  after  a hard  day’s  work 
upon  the  Glacier  du  Geant,  Avhen  under  our  feet,  as  if  coming 
from  the  body  of  the  glacier,  an  explosion  is  heard.  Somewhat 
startled,  Ave  look  inrpiiringly  over  the  ice.  The  sound  is 
repeated,  seAmral  shots  being  fired  in  cpiick  succession.  They 
seem  sometimes  to  our  right,  sometimes  to  our  left,  giving 
the  impression  that  the  glacier  is  breaking  up,  still  nothing 
is  to  be  seen. 

“"We  closely  scan  the  ice,  and  after  an  hour’s  strict  search 
Ave  discover  the  cause  of  the  reports.  They  announce  the 
bii’th  of  a crevasse.  Through  a pool  upon  the  glacier,  we 
notice  air  bubbles  ascending,  and  find  the  bottom  of  the  pool 


51 


tTossed  bj  a nan-ovv  crack,  from  which  the  bubbles  issue, 
mght  and  left  from,  this  pool,  we  trace  the  young  fissure 
tbrough  long  distanees.  It  is  sometimes  almost  too  feeble  tO' 
>e  seen,  and  at  no  place  is  it  wide  enough  to  admit  a knife- 
blade. 

It  is  difficult  to  believe  that  the  formidable  fissures,  amono" 
which  you  and  I have  so  often  trodden  with  awe,  should 
vjmmence  in  this  small  way.  Such,  however,  is  the  case, 
i ho  great  and  gaping  chasms  on  and  above  the  icefalls  of  the 
(:reant  and  the  Taletre  begin  as  narrow  cracks,  which  open 
,gi'adually  to  crevasses.  The  crevasses  are  grandest  on  the 
higher  neves,  where  they,  sometimes  appear  as  long  yawning 
Assures,  and  sometimes  as  chasms  of  irregular  outline ; delic(de 
him  light  shimmers  from  them,  but  this  is  gradually  lost  in  the. 
darkness  ot  their  profounder  portions. 

Over  the  edges  of  the  chasms,  and  mostly  over  the  southern' 
edps,_  hang  a coping  of  snow,  and  from  this  depend  like 
stalactites,  rows  of  transparent  icicles,  ten,  twenty,  thirty  feet 
pendent  spears  constitute  one  of  the  most  beau- 
tiful features  of  the  higher  crevasses.  How  are  they  produced  ?’ 
hvideutly  by  the  thawing  of  the  snow.  -But  ivhv,  when  once 
thawed,  should  the  water  freeze  again  to  solid  spears  ?”  Hovv 
let  us  examine  this  ; if  the  supposed  heat  of  the  sun’s  rays,, 
could  melt  the  snow  at  the  southern  edges  of  the  crevasse, 
why  did  not  similar  rays  from  the  sun,  conveying  the  like^ 
temperature,  melt  the  general  surface  of  the  glacier,  and. 
profluce  thereby -large  pools  of  water  on  the  surface  of  the 
glacier  ? Particularly,  as  the  Professor  states,  “ that  the  suow  on 
which  the  sunbeams  fall,  absorbs  the  solar  heat,  and  on  a- 
sunny  day,  you  may  see  the  summits  of  the  high  Alps  glisten- 
ing with  the  water  of  liquefaction.  The  air  above,  and  around 
the  mountains  niay,  at  the  same  time,  be  many  degrees  below 
the  freezing  point  in  temperature.” 

If  the  surface  of  the  snow  on  the  mountains  was  melted  by 
the  solar  heat,  as  the  Professor  supposes,  what  was  there  to 
arrest  the  .streams  of  water  thus  produced,  and  to  prevent  them 
from  .flowing  into  the  valleys  occupied  by  the  glaciers,  and 
converting  the  glaciers  themselves  into  mountain  torrents, 
while  at  the  same  time  the  mountains  were  being  denuded  of 
snow?  But  we  know  that  such  results  have  not  been  pro- 
duced. Above  the  snow  line  the  mountains  are  perpetually 
covered  with  snow,  and  the  glaciers  have  remained  from  a 
remote  antiquity  to  attest  that  the  snow  does  not  absorb 


tlie  heat  of  the  sunbeams,  foi’  the  simple  I’cason  that  the  sun- 
beams in  themselves  do  not  bring  any  heat  from  the  sun  to 
this  planet. 

In  my  early  boyhood,  I dwelt  on  the  banks  of  the  Potomac, 
a river  fancifully  named  by  the  Indians,  before  the  advent  of 
the  white  man,  '‘  the  river  of  swans,”  from  the  abundance  of 
that  water  fowl  that  frequented-  its  waters.  Well  do  I 
remember,  lying  awake  on  the  eve  of  our  several  winter 
holidays,  when  the  river  was  deeply  frozen,  anticipating  a day 
of  s})len(lid  skating  on  the  morrow,’  to  have  been  often  startled 
by  the  noise  of  a great  explosion  of  the  ice  on  the  river, 
■occasioned  by  the  compression  of  the  air  beneath  the  ice,  as 
the  Tide  rising  rapidly  forced  it  upwards  between  the  water 
.and  the  iee,  till  its  accumulation  and  compression  would  over- 
cojne  the  re.'sistance  of  the  ice,  and  a iissure  would  be  opened 
in  it  extending  sometimes  for  miles,  and  liberating  the  pent 
up  air  into  the  atmosphere.  If  the  temperature  of  the  night 
air  was  l)elow  the  freezing  point  of  water,  as  the  tide  receded 
the  water  which  had  filled  the  fissure,  when  the  tide  was  full, 
was  frozen  into  ice,  and  the  track  of  the  fissure  could  be 
marked  on  the  next  day  by  the  film  of  thin  ice  that  had  been 
formed  in  it,  as  the  tide  was  recediim  the  nis-ht  before. 

In  this  way,  air  holes,  so  dangerous  to  travelers  and  skaters 
on  the  ice,  are  constantly  formed  on  our  rivers  and  streams, 
•subject  to  the  flow  of  the  tides,  and  in  lakes  and  mountain 
.•streams,  they  are  also  formed  by  the  currents  of  water  flowing 
tlownwards  in  a similar  manner.  In  my  later  youth,  I had' 
observed  similar  effects  from  similar  causes,  produced  on  the 
ice  of  the  river  Hudson,  at  West  Point.  In  short,  fissures  on 
the  surface  of  anything,  whether  on  the  surface  of  the  earth  by 
volcanic  eruptions  in  which  lava,  rocks,  scorite,  mud,  boiling 
Avater,  are  thrown  out  from  ' the  iiiterior,  or  by  Geysers 
spouting  their  hot  streams  into  the  atmosphere,  or  the  cracks 
in  the  ground  produced  by  long  continued  droughts,  evapo- 
rating the  moisture  contained  in  the  soil,  and  even  eruptive 
diseases  among  mankind  or  other  animals  whether  wild  or 
domestic,  are  all  the  results  of  interior  forces,  acting  from  the' 
interior  to  their  respectiAm  surfaces. 

. Hoav  let  us  explain  the  crevasse  on  the  glacier.  The  snow 
falls  carry  to  the  glacier  large  quantities  of  atmospheric  air, 
Avhich  are  confined  between  the  glacier  and  the  snow  as  it 
falls;  every  fall  of  snow  presses  its  predecessors  and  the  air 
they  contain  closer  together  against  the  ice.  filling  its 


53 


vacancies  with  air.  This  column  of  air,  thus  pressed  down 
upon  and  into  the  ice,  encounters  the  air  which  has  been 
enclosed  between  the  bottom  of  the  glacier  and  the  earth  on 
which  the  glacier  rests, — this  last  mentioned  air  has  been 
warmed  by  the  radiation  of  heat  from  the  interior  of  the  earth, 
and  has  become  positively  electrified  by  it — the  contact  of  this 
positively  electrified  air  with  the  negativelj'^  electrified  ice  of 
the  bottom  of  the  glacier.*  evolves  more  heat,  which,  melting 
the  lower  stratum  of  ice  of  the  glacier,  constitutes  the  source 
of  the  stream  of  water  that  flows  from  the  glacier.  Such  is 
the  origin  of  the  river  Ehone. 

This  warm  air,  in  its  effort  to  rise  through  the  glacier  into 
the  upper  atrnosphere  negatively  electrified,  meets  in  the 
crevices  everywhere  abounding  in  the  ice  of  the  glacier^  the 
air  which  has  been  forced  down  by  the  snow  falls,  and  which 
last  air  is  negatively  electrified;  the  coninnction  of  these  two 
airs  oppositely  electrified  evolves  heat,  which  expanding  the 
air,  displaces  the  ice  of  ' the  glacier,  foi’ming  channels  for  its 
escape  into  the  upper  atmosphere,  and  when  it  reaches  the 
upper  surface  of  the  glacier,  forces  its  way' through  it  into  the 
atmosphere  in  that  .minute  fissure,  which  Professor  Tyndall 
had  such  difficulty  to  discover;  Again,  this  warm  air  as  it 
escaped  into  the  atmosphere,  melted  the  edges  of  the  ice  or 
snow  at  the  surface  through  which  it  passed,  and  through 
which  it  was  visible  in  the  air  bubbles  Professor  T.  described. 

The  melting  of  the  lower  stratum  of  ice  of  the  glacier  in 
contact  with  the  earth  produced  by  the  heat  evolved  by  the 
conjunction  of  the  positive  electricity  of  the.  earth  with  the 
negative  electricity  of  the  ice,  is  the  cause  of  the  subsidence  of 
the  body  of  the'  glacier,  and  the  declivity  of  the  valley  itself  is 
the  cause  of  the  glacier  moving  bodily  downward  in  it.  The 
fractures,  strains,  torsions  of  certain  portipns  of  the  glacier 
are  the  results  of  the  forces  of  expansion  and  contraction  in 
the  interior  of  the  glacier,  produced  by  variations  of  its 
interior  temoerature  as  mentioned  above. 

In  this  country,  the  winter  of  the  years  1874  and  1875  has 
been  an  exceptional  one.  The  cold  has  been  of  long,  and 
almost  uninterrupted  continuance,  and  of  great  seterity. 
The  rivers  in  the  5liddle  and  Eastern  States  have  been  closed 
with  ice,  which  has  been  of  great  density  and  depth,  extending 
in  some  of  their  courses  through  the  mountains  even  to  the 
beds  of  their  streams.  The  frozen  condition  of  the  waters  has 


54 


rcniained  till  lute  in  tiie  sprint  season;  and  from  the  aecumn- 
lulion  of  immense  masses  office  in  certain  portions  of  these 
rivers,  forming  what  were  called  ice-gorges,  filling  their  entire 
widtli  for  the  distance  of  miles  in  lengtli,  the  most  serious 
apprehensions  were  entertained  of  extraordinary  damages  to 
towns  and  villages,  railways  and  canals,  in  the  valleys  of  these 
rivers,  that  would  he  sustained  hy  the  sudden  breaking  up  of 
these  gorges  of  ice  from  rain-storm’s,  and  the  melting  of  the 
snows  on  the  mountains,  which  would  produce  the  most 
extensive  and  alarming  inundations.  These  apprehensions 
were  justified  by  the  advanced  spring  season  which  usnallv, ' 
by  its  increased  temperature,  terminates  the  rigours  of  winter. 

To  obviate,  if  possible,  these  threatened  dangers  and  calami- 
ties by  the  sudden  In-eaking  up  of  the  ice,  various  expedients 
Avere  resorted  to,  viz  : cutting  chamiels  through  the  ice  below 
the  gorges,  to  liberate  the  Avater  above,  should  it  assume 
alarming  proportions  ; attempting  to  destroy  tlie  gorges  thom- 
seh^es  by  the  explosions  of  gunpoAvder,  or  of  nitro-glycerine, 
confined  in  chambers  in  the  ice  itself,  and  one  very  liberal 
gogtleman,  evidently  a believer  in  the  theory  that  the  sun  is 
an  incandescent  body  and  sends  its  heat  bodily  to  our  earth, 
dowiiAvards,  presented  to  the  authorities  of  one  of  the  towns 
e^-dangered  by  the  ice-gorge  in  its  neighbourliood,  tAventy- 
eight  barrels  of  ISTaphtha,  to  be  burnt  on  the  ice-gorge,  under 
the  impression  that  the  heat  produced  by  their  combustion, 
would  descend  through  the  ice,  and  liquefy  it  into  water.  It 
is  scarcely  necessary 'to  add, ' that,  AA^hen  "the  experiment  of 
burning  the  Kajihtha  upon  the  ice-gorge  was  tried,  tlie  heat 
evolved  by  its  combustion  immediately  ascended  into  the 
upper  atmosphere,  leaving  the,  ice  unaffected  by  the  experi- 
ment. 

F rom  a very  interesting  book  entitled,  “ IMount  Washington 
in  Winter ; or,  the  Experiences  of  a Scientific  Expedition  uj>on 
the  Highest  Mountain  in  Xew  England — 1870-71,”  pnblislicd 
in  Boston  in  1871,  we  make  some  extracts  that  seem  to. 
have  a connection  Avith  the  subjects  of  Avhich  Ave  are  treating. 

“ Mo.osilauke  Mountain,  near  IMount  Washington,  is  nearly 
fiive  thousand  feet  high,  and  lies  Avithin  the  arctic  zone  of 
climate.  It  was  on  this  mountain  that  tAA'o  scientific  gentle- 
men, viz.,  Messrs.  A.  F.  Clough  and  II.  A.  Kimball,  deter- 
nAined  to  pass  tAvo  months,  in  the  winter  of  the  years  1869  atid 
1870.  in  order  to  fit  themseh’-es  the  better  for  a Avinter  residence 


on  Mount  Washington,  at  a future  day.  They  attempted  the 
ascent  of  the  mountain  on  ISTovember  23d,  1869,  but  were  driven 
hack  by  the  severity  of  the  weather.  On  the  31st  of  December, 
1869,  the  attempt  was  renewed  under  better  auspices,  and  was 
successful. 

“About  two  months  were  spent  by  them  on  this  summit. 
So  valuable  were  the  experiences  acquired,  and  so  unusual 
were  the  meteorological  phenomena  observed,  that  the  Mount 
Washington  phenomena,  subsequently  experienced,  have  not 
equaled  those  upon  Mount  Moosilauke,  and  among  them  the 
possibility  of  living  on  a mountain  top  during  the  winter,  was 
fully  demousti'ated. 

“ There  is  scarcely  a mountain  in  Xew  England  from  which 
the  view  is  more  extejasive.  We  can  see  from  it,  nearly  the 
whole  of  the  State  of  ISTew  Hampshire,  avith  its  numerous 
mountain  peaks.  Eastward  is  Mount  Washington,  in  solemn 
repose, — its  neighbouring  peaks  of  immaculate  whiteness — 
Momit  .Lafayette  and  its  lines  of  white  extending  far,  down 
into  the  evergreen  forests.  Southward  is  Lake  Winnipiseogee, 
with  its  numerous  isles,  glittering  in  the  sunliglit,  like  a gem 
of  the  purest  water.  W estward  is  the  whole  State  of  Y ermont, 
and  Ascutney,  the  most  pointed  of  its  mountains,  is  conspicu- 
ous. Moosilauke  is  so  muck  higher  than  the  immediate 
neighbouring  peaks,  that  the  whole  country  is  spread  out  as  a 
grand  intrusive  raised  map  before  the- beholder. 

“ Ho  scene  more  grand  and  beautiful  ever  greeted  the  eye 
of  man,  than  when,  beyond  the  dark  band  of  clouds  just  below 
the  summits  of  the  Franconia  and  White  mountains,  appeared 
those  tints  of  rose  and  orange,  lying  along  the  horizon  just 
above  the  snow  capped  summit  of  Mount  Washington,  and 
against  a deep  azure  sky.  From  Moosilauke,  you  command 
the  whole  panorama  of  the  White  Mountain  range,  and  you 
may  see  something  of  the  effect  witnessed  among  the  Alps. 
As  the  day  dies,  the  lost  shadows  pass  with  strange  rapidity 
from  peak  to  peak,  vanishing  from  one  height  as  they  appear 
on  the  next.” 

The  following  are  extracts  from  their.Journal,  viz  : 

“ On  the  1st  of  January,  1870,  the  sun  rose  clear.  We  were 
above  the  clouds,  and  a grander  spectacle  one  does  not  often 
behold.  Tlie  clouds  seemed  to  roll  and  surge  like  the  billows 
of  the  ocean.  They  were  of  every  dark  and  of  every  brilliant  hue  ; 


o6 


Lore  they  were  resplendent  .with  golden  light,  and  there  of 
silvery  brightness;  here  of  rosy  tints,  there  of  sombre  gray, 
here  of  snowy  whiteness,  there  of  murky  darkness,  here 
gorgeous  .with  the  play  of  colours,  and  there,  the  lurid  light 
ha.shcs  deep  down  into  the  gulfs  formed  by  the  eddying  mist. 
But  above  all  these  clouds,  these  fla.shes  of  light,  this  darkness, 
rise  in  stately  grandeur,  the  summits  of  Mount  AVashington, 
sublime  in  its  canopy  of  snow,  and  of  Lafoj'ette,  with  a few 
peaks  of  lesser  altitude,  glittering  in  the  bright  sunlight.  As 
the  sun  rises  higlicr,  the  picture  fades  away,  the  whole  country 
is  flooded  with  light. 

“ Did  this  grandeur,  this  magTiilicence,  this  brilliant  display 
■•flights,  of  sluidows,  and  shades — of  these  clouds,  so  resplen- 
dent, so  beautiful,  portend  a storm?  In  the  evening  the  Avind 
'•hanged  to  the  southeast,  and  increased  in  velocit\ . 

“ At  daylight  on  the  2d  of  Tanuary,  1S70,  it  Avas  snoAving.  . 
This  soon  changed  to  sleet,  and  then  to  rain,  and  at  eight  o’clock, 
A.  AI.,  the  velocity  of  the  wind  aauas  seventy  miles  per  hour;  at 
tAvelve  o’clock,  noon,  there  Avas  a perfect  tempest.  - Although 
thcAvind  Avas  so  fearful,  yet  Air.  Clough  Avas  determined  to  knoAv 
the  exact  rate  at  AA'hich  it  aa’US  bloAving.  By  clinging  to  the 
rock,  he  succeeded  in  reaching  a place  where  he  could  expose 
the  anemometer,  and  not  be'bloAvn  aAvay  himself.  Re  found 
the  velocity  of  the  Avind  to  be  ninety-seven  and  a half  miles  per 
hour,  the  greatest  velocity,  until  that  time,  ever  recorded. 
AVhen  he  reached  the  house,  he  Avas  thoroughly  .saturated  Avith 
AA’-ater,  thcAvind  having  driven  the  rain  thi'ough  every  garment, 
although  they  Avere  ot‘  the  heaA-iest  material,  as  though  they 
had  been  made  of  the  lightest  fabric'  During  the  afternoon, 
the  rain  and  gale  continued  Avith  unabated  violence.  The  rain 
Avas  driA’-cu  through  every  crack  and  crevice  of  the  house  and 
the  floor  of  our  room  Avas  flooded.  So  flerce  Avas  the  drauglit 
of  the  stove,  that  the  wind  literally  took  aAvay  every  spark  of 
fire,  leaAung  only  the  half  charred  wood  in  the  stove,  and  it  Avas 
Avith  the  greatest  dilficulty  that  Ave  succeeded  in  re-kindling  it. 
During  the  evening,  the  Avind  seemed  to  increase  in  fury,  and 
although  theAvindovvAvas  BomcAvliat  protected,  yet  nearly  every 
glass  in  it,  that  Avas  exposed,  Avas  broken  by  the  pressure  of 
the  gale.  As  the  lights  Avere  broken,  the  fire  Avas  again  extin- 
guished, and  even  my  hurricaiAC  lantern  Avas  blown  out  as 

quickly  as  if  the  flame  had  been  unprotected.  * * * * 

After  nine  o’clock,  P.  AI.,  there  were  occasional  lulls  in.  the 
storm,  and  by  midnight  it  had  considerably  abated. 


“ TVlien  it  was  clear,  there  was  a strong  temptation,  notwith- 
standing the  cold,  to  he  out  of  doors  to  watch  the  clouds,  at 
first  of  almost  fiery  redness,  then  changing  to, gray  and  neutral 
tints,  until  almost  black,  they  seemed  to  gather  around  some 
distant  peak,  or  as  a dark  band,  they  lay  between  the  Franco- 
nia and  hite  ^lountains,  leaving  only  the  snow-clad  summits 
above  the  dark  border;  or  at  sunset,  when  they  lay  in  narrow 
bands,  or  rose  tinted  clusters  around  the  summit  of  Mount 
^ i^hin^ton,  while  elsewhere  they  were  those  of  leaden  hue, 
such  as  are  seen  only  in  winter.  Often  when  the  sky  is  par- 
tiallj'  overcast,  through  the  intervening  spaces  of  the  clouds,  we 
see  that  intense  blue  sky,  which  is  peculiar  to  high  altitudes. 

_ “ On  the  19th  of  February,  1870,  there  were  two  currents  of 
air,  the  upper  had  its  lowest  stratum  probably  two  thousand 
feet  below  the  summit.  In  the  morning  the  upper  current 
was  northwest,  with  a velocity  of  fifty  miles  per  hour ; about 
noon,  the  wind  changed  to  the  north  and  increased  in  velocity, 
a,ud  at  five  o’clock,  P.  M.,  it  had  a velocity  of  seventy  miles- 
per  hour.  At  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  nearly  5000  feet  below 
there  was  scarcely  a perceptible  breeze,  yet  up,  a thousand  feet, 
there  was  a strong  current  from  the  southioest,  and  the  clouds 
seem  to  move  almost  as  rapidly  as  those  from  the  north,  higher 
up  the  mountain.  On  account  of  the  velocity  of  the  wind,  and 
the  upward  pressure  of  the  currents  below,  .the  etfect  was 
remarkable.  The.  whole  country,  except  the  higher  summits, 
was  covered  with  clouds,  and  these  were  moving  at  the  rate, 
probably,  of  more  than  sixty  miles  per  hour,  and  everywhere 
they  were  broken  into  seething,  undulating  masses,  for  as  they 
came  near  the  mountains,  in  an  instant,  almost,  they  would  be 
lifted  more  than  a thousand  feet,  to  be  carried  over  the 
summits.  As  far  as  the  eye  could  reach,  embracing  thousands 
of  square  miles,  Avas  this  rolling  tumultuous  mass  of  clouds.” 

These  gentlemen  left  the  Moosilauke  mountain  on  the  last 
day  ot  February,  A.  I),,  1870.  It  was  extremely  cold,  wind  GO 
to  70  miles  per  hour,  thermometer  ranging  from  0 degrees  to 
—17  degrees.  The  complete  organization  of  the  expedition  to 
pass  the  winter  of  the  years  187,0  and  1871,  on  Mount  'Wash- 
ington, "was  as  follows,  viz  : 

■ C.  H.  Hitchcock,  State  Geologist,  J.  II.  Huntington,  in 
charge  of  the  Observatory  upon  the  mountain.  S.  A.  Helson, 
Observer. 

A.  F.  Clough  and  H.  A.  Kimball,  Photographers. 


Theodore  Smith,  Observer  and  Telegrapher  for  the  United 
States  Signal  Service. 

“Mount  Washington,  in  the  ^Whte  Mountains  in  New 
Hampshire,  is  in  latitude44  degrees  16  minutes  25  seconds  north 
and  in  longitude  from  Greenwich  71  degree.'^  16  minutes  26 
seconds  west,  or  1 degree  0 minutes  43.99  seconds  of  longitude 
east  from  Hanover  in  New  Hampshire. 

“Its  elevation  above  tide  water  is  6,293  feet,  and  in  altitude 
it  is  the  second  highest  mountain  northward, of  the  Gulf  oi‘ 
Iklexieo,  the  highest  mountain  thereof  being  Clingman’s  Peak, 
in  the  State  of  North  Carolina,  which  is  6,707  feet  above  tide 
water. 

“ The  limit  of  the  growth  of  trees  on  the  north  side  of 
Mount  Washington,  is  4,150  feet  above  tide  water. 

“The  climate  of  Mount  Washington  corresponds  with  that 
of  the  middle  of  Greenland,  about  seventy  degrees  of  north 
latitude,  or  26°  further  north  than  New  Hampshire. 

“It  is  an  arctic  island  (so  to  speak)  in  the  Temperate  Zone, 
and  on  account  of  its  great  elevation  it  exhibits  also  the  ct)ii- 
dition  of  the  atmosphere,  where  the  mercury  does  not  rise 
above  24  inches  in  the  barometer.  For  peculiar  interest 
therefore,  the  Mount  Washington  Station  is  not  exceeded  by 
any  point  within  the  arctic  circle.” 

Professor  Edward  Tuckerm'an,  of  Amherst,  Massachusetts, 
in  his  admirable  treatise  upon  “the  Vegetation  of  the  White 
Mountains,”  marks  out  four  regions:  first,  the  lower  forest,  in 
which  are  found  the  hard  wood  species  of  trees,  the  rock 
maple,  the- beech,  the  white  and  yellow  birches;  with  these 
are  often  large  white  pines,  firs,  white  spruces,  the  aspen,  the 
witch  hazel  and  the  mountain  ash. 

“ In  the  second  region,  the  upper  forest  consists  mostly  of 
black  spruce  and  fir,  with  occasional  yellow'  and  canoe  birches, 
Frazer’s  balsam  fir  and  a mountain  . ash  : at  4,000  feet  of 
altitude  these  trees  are  dwarfed  but  are  very  strong,  and  w'hen 
close  together  form  a thicket  almost  impenetrable. 

, “ Among  the  plants  of  the  third  or  sub-aljnne  region  are  the 
mountain  sandwort,  the  evergreen  cowberry,  the  Labrador  tea 
and  the  mountain  bilberry.  This  seems  not  to  be  well  charac- 
terized- 


“The  foux-th  and  highest  region  is  called  alpine^  and  con- 
tains many  plants  peculiar  to  Labrador  and  Greenland.  There 
ax’e  some  fifty  or  sixty  of  these,  and  among  them  are  as  many 
more  lowland  species  which  have  emigrated  to  the  summit 
and  manage  to  live  there  in  favourable  seasons,  though  often 
much  dwarfed.  The  lichens  are  very  conspicuous  and  beauti- 
ful, one  of  a sulphur  yellow  colour  is  quite  noticeable,  and  is  a 
good  indication  of  the  visitor’s  arrival  in  the  Alpine  District. 
Another  is  the  reindeer  moss,  a very  common  article  of  food 
for  the  most  useful  animal  to  man  in  Lapland.  The  best 
localities  of  these  arctic  plants  are  in  the  great  gulfs  or  ravines, 
upon  the  east  side  of  Mount  Washington. 

“ As  far  as- the  upper  limit  of  trees,  boulders  that  have  been 
transported  by  the  glacial  drift  from  more  northern  summits 
are  common.  They  rapidly  diminish  in  number  and  size  upon 
that  point,  and  have  not  been  seen  far  above  the  fourth  water- 
tank,  or  above  an  altitude  of  5,800  feet. 

“It  winter  weather  on  Mount  Washington  in  Octobei'. 
Most  of  the  necessary  preparations  ha\ung  been  made  on 
November  12th,  1870,  Mr.  Huntington  promptly  climbed 
Mount  Washington  and  commenced  to  take  and  recoi’d  the 
meteorological  observations.  The  other  members  of  the 
party  Avere  delayed  by  various  reasons — but  on  the  30th  of 
November,  1870,  four  gentlemen  of  the  pax’ty,  viz : Charles  B. 
Cheney,  of- Oxford,  A.  F.  Clough,  of  Warren,  C.  F.  Bi'acy,  of 
Warren,  and  HoAvard  A.  Kimball,  of  Concord,  ari’Wed  at  the 
summit,  and  on  the  4th  of  December,  1870,  Sergeant  Theodore 
Smith,  of  the  U.  S.  Signal  Service,  detailed  as  an  observer, 
joined  the  party, 

“ KoA^ember  was  making  its  exit  in  what  might  be  ternxed 
a lovely  winter  day,  and  the  prospect  of  so  choice  a time  to 
make  our  ascent,  toilsome  at  best  at  this  season,  and  A-ei'y 
hazardous  except  at  special  times  in  good  Aveather,  inspired  us 
with  enthusiasm  more  and  more  increased  as  we  approached 
the  final  reach  that  stood  in  defiance  of  any  aid  that  could  be 
rendered  by  the  panting  steeds  that  noAV  bore  us  forward. 

“ At  Marshfield  Ave  are  three  miles  from  the  summit,  and  at 
present  all  travel. over  this  distance  must  depend-  solely  upon 
Inxman  ■ muscle  and  energy  to  achieve.  At  this  point  Ave 
decided  to  make  the  ascent  at  once,  though  there  Avere  serious 
misgivings  on  the  part  of  some  of  us  in  vicAv  of  the  near 
approach  of  night,  Avhich  at  this  season,  half-fast  two  o’clock. 


CO 


P.  M.,  leaves  a small  margin  of  the  day,  at  best  for  such  a task 
as  stood  before  us.  In  ascending  from  this  point  we  to  lowed 
the  railroad  track.  We  were  compelled  to  walk  upon  the  ties 
for  the  snow  was  several  feet  deep,  with  a sharp  upward  grade 
in  some  places  rising  one  foot  in  three,  with  the  ties  three  feet 
apart  and  loaded  with  ice  and  snow  and  built  on  trestle  work\ 
over  gorges  of  some  25  or  30  feet  in  depth;  the  careless  eager 
steps  of  unbaffled  enthusiasm,  are  soon  compelled  to  give 
place  to  great  caution  and  the  constant  stress  of  nerve  and 
muscle  % * * * The  end  of  the  first  mile  carrying  us 

up  to  within  one  half  mile  of  the  limit  of  wood  growth,  found 
us  in  tolerable  condition,  when  a halt  for  breath  and  ob- 
servations discovered  to  us  an  approaching  storm  Ijing  on  the 
Orceii  Mountains  of  Vermont.  It  would  iindoubtedly  strike 
us  but  we  still  hoped  we  might  press  on  and  reach  the  summit 
first  The  thought  of  being  overtaken  by  a furious  storm  on 
the  wintry,  shelterless  clitfs  of  Mount  Washington,  \yith  the 
nif'’ht  about  to  enshroud  us,  w'as  fearfully  impressive,  and 
prompted  us  to  our  best  endeavours.  With  all  the  eftort  we 
could  well  muster,  we  had  only  advanced  a half  mile  more, 
cari-yino-  us  fairly  above  the  wooded  region  to.  the  toot  ot 
‘ Jacob’s  Ladder,’  when  the  storm  struck  us.  There  were 
suddenly  wrapped  around  us  dense  clouds  of  frozen  vapour, 
driven  so  furiously  into  our  faces  by  the  raging  winds  as  to 
threaten  suffocation.  The  cheering  repose  of  the  elements, 
but  a moment  before, -had  now  given  place  to  what  might  well 
be  felt  as  the  power  and  hoarse  rage  of  a thousand  tunes,  and 
the  shroud  of  darkness  that  was,  in  a moment  thrown  over  us 
was  nearly  equal  to  that  of  the  moonless  night.  Compelled  to 
redoubled  efforts  to  keep  our  feet  and  make  proper  advance, 
we  struggled  with  the  tempest,  though  with  such  odds  against 
us  that  we  were  repeatedly  slipping  and  getting  painful 
bruises.  Mr.  Kimball  finding  himself  too  much  exhausted  to 
continue  this  struggle  on  the  track,  we  all  halted  in  brief  con- 
sultation— during  which  Mr.  Clough  suggested  that  our  only 
hope  consisted  in  pushing  upward  with  all  our  might. 

“Here  we  became  separated,  three  of  our  party  left  the 
track,  and  Mr.  Kimball  willingly  left  behind  his  baggage  in  order 
to  continue  the  ascent.  By  thus  leaving  the  track,  we  escape 
liability  to  falls  and  bruises,  but  found  ourselves  often  getting 
buried  to  our  ivaist  in  snow,  and  forced  to  e^^t  our . ^f^ost 
strength  to  drag  ourselves  out.  and  advance.  We  repeatedly 
called  to  Mr.  Bracy,  who  had  kept  on  the  track  as  we  supposed, 
but  oould  get  no  answer.  The  roar  of  the  tempest  overcame 


G1 


our  utmost  vocal  efforts,  and  the  clouds  of  frozen  vapour  that 
lashed  us  so  furiously  as  it  hugged  us  in  its  chilling  embrace, 
was  so  dense  that  no  object  could  he  seen  at  a distance  of  ten 
paces.  Against  such  remorseless  blasts  no  human  being  could 
keep  integrity  of  muscle  and  remain  erect.  We  could  only 
go  on  together  a little  wa}'  and  then  throw  ourselves  down  for 
a few  moments  to  recover  breath  and  strength.  We  had 
many  times  repeated  this,  when  Mr.  Kimball  became  so  utterly 
, exhausted  as  to  make  it  impossible  to  take  another  step.  He 
called  to  the  others  to  leave  and  save  themselves  if  possible. 
The  noble  and  emphatic  ‘ never,’  uttered  by  the  manly  Clough, 
whose  sturdy  muscle  Avas  found  ample  to  hack  his  will,  aroused 
him  to  another  effort.  . 

, “The  two  stronger  gentlemen,  whose  habits  of  life  and 
superior  physical  powers  gave  hope  of  deliverance  for  them- 
selves, were  both  immovable  in  the  determination  that  our 
fate  should  he  one,  let  that  be  what  it  must. 

“The  situation  was  one  of  most  momentous  peril,  especially 
as  to  Mr.  Kimball,  whose  exhaustion  was  so  extreme  that  he 
was  wholly  indifferent  to  the  fate  that  seem  to  impend,  only 
begging  that  he  might  be  left  to  that  sleep,  from  whose 
embrace  there  was  felt  nopoAver  of  resistance.  Still  there  Avas 
a listless  drag  onAvard  mostly  in  the  interests  of  his  compan- 
ions, and  in  obedience  to  their  potent  Avills.  After  this  sort 
we  struggled  on  a few  rods  at  a time,  falling  together  betAveen 
each  eftbi’t  to  rest  and  gain  new  strength.  At  each  halt 
Messrs.  Clough  and  Cheney  used  their  best  endeavours  by 
pounding  and  rubbing  Mr.  Kimball’s  feet  and  limbs,  and  in 
various  other  Avays  endeavoured  to  promote  circulation  and 
prevent  freezing.  The  last  saving  device  AA’as  supplied  by  a 
cord,  Avhich  Ave  chanced  to  have,  and  the  end  of  this  was  made 
a noose,  A\"hich  was  placed  in  Mr.  Kimball’s  hand,  Avhile  the 
other  end  Avas  passed  over  the  shoulder  of  Mr.  Clough,  who 
tugged  along  in  advance  while  IMr.  Cheney  helped  at  his  side. 
Most  of  the  last  mile  was  accomplished  in  this  manner. 

“ With  the  Avind  at  70  miles  per  hour  and  the  thermometer 
down  to  7°,  as  Avas  fpund  after  arriA'ing  at  the  Observatory, 
we  came  at  length  to  ‘ Lizzie  . Bourne’s  Monument,’  only 
thirty  rods  from  the  Observatory.  One  of  our  party  shouted 
an  exultant  hurrah  at  the  glad  sight  of  this  rude  pile,  Avhich 
was  erected  to  commemorate  the  sad  fate  of  one  aaLo 
Avas  overtaken  by  the  darkness  and  heAAuldering  fogs  and 
chills  of  a rude  October  night.  ‘Then,’  in  the  AAmrds  of  the 


eloquent  StaiT  King,  ‘tvas  the  time  to  feel  the  meaning  of  that 
pile  of  8tonc3,  which  tells  where  Miss  Bourne,  overtaken  by 
night  and  fog,  and  exhausted  by  cold,  breathed  out  her  life 
into  the  bleak  cloud.’ 

“ It  took  more  than  a half  hour’s  time  to  miake  this  last 
thirty  rods.  Even  the  stronger  ones  had  become  wearied  by 
their  unusual  exertions,  and  had  not  this  been  the  case,  their 
progress  would  have  been  slow,  for  it  was  found  absolutely 
impossible  to  force  on  the  one  who  had  become  unable  to 
regard  his  own  peril  more  than  a few  feet  at  a time.  lie 
would  then  sink  down  into  a deep  sleep,  while  the  others 
would  employ  the  time  in  chafing  his  hands  and  feet,  and 
after  a few'  moments  manage  to  arouse  him  and  make  another 
struggle  onward. 

“From  Lizzie  Bourne’s  Monument  to  the  summit,  Mr. 
Kimball  was  mostly  insensible  to  passing  events,  and  only 
awoke  to  clear  consciousness,  as  from  a dream,  io  find  himself 
in  bed  in  a comfortable  room  in  the  Observatory  building,  safe 
from  the  dreadful  tempest,  and  owing  his  life  to  the  unyield- 
ing devotion  of  these  brave  men  w'ho  scornlid:  to  save  them- 
selves at  the  expense  of  a comrade  left  tos^phrieh.  Mr.  Bracy, 
who  had  got  separated  from  us  during  ouri,  earlier  struggles,, 
had  got  in  about  7 o’clock,  P.  M.,  our  own  Wrival  being  at 
7^  o’clock,  P.  M.  He  had  kept  on  the  track. 

“ Thus  at  least  three  hours  of  this  ascent  were  made  amid 
the  dai’kness  of  a moonless  night  in  the  howding  tempest,  the 
horrors  of  which  will  be  more  readily  appreciated  when  it  is 
remembered  that  a wind  of  45  miles  per  hour  blew  down 
buildings  and  uprooted  trees  in  Hew  York  City.  Twenty- 
five  miles  per  hour  added  make  a most  fearful  hurricane.  We 
were  abundantly  supplied  with  nourishment  on  our  ascent,, 
chiefiy  in  the  form  of  a strong  decoction  of  tea,  of  which  w’e 
occasionally  partook.  This  is  found  to  be  by  far  the  most 
potent  and  effective  stimulant  that  can  be  used  in  such  con- 
ditions of  extreme  exposure. 

“Mr.  Huntington,  aroused  by  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Bracy,  sallied 
out  with  a lantern  in  search  of  us,  hut  found  his  best  exertions 
of  little  avail,  the  storm  being  so  fierce  and  thick,  he  could 
neither  make  himself  seen  nor  heard  beyond  a few  paces,  and 
they  were  regarding  us  as  probably  lost,  though  they  were  pre- 
paring for  another  effort  in  our  behalf,  when  we  arrived. 


63 


“A  sleepless  uight  gave  place  at  length  to  a day  thick  and 
stormy,  and  for  several  days  the  clouds  gathered  densely 
around  us,  and  the  storm  continued  to  rage,  during  which  we 
were  recovering  from  ‘ the  wear  and  tear’  of  our  adventures, 
and  recruiting  for  the  work  in  store  for  us.” 

The  railroad  depot,  in  a part  of  which  this  party  passed  the 
winter  of  1871,  was  a wooden  unfinished  building,  sixty  feet 
long  by  twenty-two  feet  wide  and  stands  nearly  , north  and 
south.  It  has  eleven  feet  posts  and  the  elevation  of  the  ridge 
pole  is  twenty-five  feet,  the  roof  of  the  usual  form  in  ordinary 
buildings.  The  apartment  occupied  by  the  party  is  situated 
in  the  southwest  corner, of  this  building.  It  is  a room  about 
twenty  feet  long,  eleven  feet  wide  and  eight  feet  high,  The 
large  part  of  the  depot  forms  a sort  of  vestibule  to  this  roomv 
and  is  wholly  inclpsed  except  at'  the  easterly  end  of  the 
northern  face,  where  the  outer  door  is  situated. 

An  extract  from  Mr.  Kimball’s  diary,  reads:  “December 
5th,  1870.  The  day  is  beautiful,  we  are  perfectly  comfortable 
outside  without  overcoats,  and  on  the  east  side  of  the  Observatory, 
the  frost  is  thawing  quite  rapidly.  Thermometer  22°  Fahrenheit.” 

jSTow  Avhy,  Avith-the  thermometer  at  22°,  should  the  thaAving 
of  the  frost  be  confined  to  the  east  side. of  the  Observatory,  when 
the  sun  was  shining  all  around  the  building  on  the  suoav  or 
Irost  Avithout  thawing  it  elscAAdiere  away  from  the  building? 
If  the  thaAving  Avas  the  result  of  the  heat  rays  of  the  sun,  so 
improperly  termed,  Avhy  Avas  not  the  thaAving  general  all  over 
the  summit  of  the  mountain,  instead  of  being  confined  to  one 
locality  ? 

The  explanation,  I think,  is  this,  viz : the  early  morning 
rays  of . sunlight  being  nearly  horizontal,  impinged  with  a 
velocity  of  186,000  miles  per  second  perpendicularly  on  the 
vertical  Avail  of  the  Observatory,  partly  covered 'with  frost 
Avork ; great  fx’iction  AAms  produced  by  the  impact  and  positive 
electricity  eAmlved  ; this  electricity  rushing  to  the  conjunction 
or  embrace  of  the  negative  electxucity  of  the  frost  work,  Avhen 
in  contact  AA'ith  it  developed  heat  which  thaAved  the  frost  Avork 
over  the  other  parts  of  the  summit  of  the  mountain ; these 
morning  rays  of  sunlight  either  passed  horizontally  or  fell 
upon  them  Avith  such  small  angles  of  ixxcideixce,  as  to  be  Avholly 
reflected  into  the  upper  atmosphere. 

Mr.  Kixnball  continues  : “ Ave  have  succeeded  in  making  some 


G4 


Tery  good  (pliotograpliic)  views,  but  not  as  large  a variety  as 
we  intend  to  have  before  we  complete  our  winter’s  worlc. 

* * * "We  have  also  made  three  negatives  of  clouds,  which 

wore  at  least  half  a mile  below  us.  They  resemble  the  Avaves 
on  the  ocean,  only  the  cloud  waves  are  iu  some  places  twenty 
or  thirty  miles  long.  They  pass  over  a range  of  mountains, 
and  take  a long  SAveep  across  the  valleys  and  then  rise  over 
the  mountains  on  the  opposite ; and  as  a general  thing,' after 
passing  over  and  coming  doAAm  on  the  other  side,  they  break 
up  in  small  clustei’s  resembling,  on  a grand  scale,  the  surf  from 
breaking  Avaves.  'Wo  have  made  some  photographs  of  this. 

* * * All  these  clouds  move  rapidly  from  the  south- 

Avest,  probably  at  a velocity  of  forty  miles  an  hour,  AAddle  on 
this  summit,  it  blows  generally  from  the  iiorthAvest.  W e have 
made  a vieAV  w^hich  shows  a small  portion  of  a remarkable 
cloud  effect  or  phenomenon,  It  was  like  a parallel  belt  on 
the  distant  horizon,  Avhose  circuit  must  have  been  more  than 
a thousand  miles.  It  resembled  the  tire  of  an  immense  cart- 
AAdieel,  (Ave  occupying  the  place  for  the  hub,)  Avhich  was  beyond 
and  encircled  all  the  lakes,  mountains,  &c.  It  was  even 
beyond  Mount  Katahdin— at  the  south,  its  upper  edge  Avas 
parallel  with  the  point  farthest  north.  At  noon  it  appears  to 
be  approaching  irs  as  a.centre,  and  as  it  nears  us,  it  breaks  up 
in  magnificent  great  thunderhcads,  minus  the  thunder, — all 
this  time  our  vieAA’’  is  becoming  more  limited.  * * * All 

this  time  it  was  snowing  beloAV,  but  we  knew  nothing  of  it 
until  night.  Our  view  of  the  surrounding  moun-tains  lasts 
only  a short  time  longer,  for  Ave  see  to  the  AA’est  thick  heaA^y 
clouds,  marching  upon  us,  a)nd  by  4 o’clock,  we  become 
densely  shrouded — AA'e  cannot  see  Tip  Top  House  from  the 
Observatory  not  many  feet  distant. 

“Hecembcr  12th,  1870.  This  morning  the  Avind  was  south, 
but  changed  to  the  northwest  in  the  afternoon  ; at  ten,  A.  M., 
there  AA'as  a bow  in  the  clouds,  and  at  noon  there  Ave-re  in  ad- 
dition three,  supernumerarv  bows  Avhich  remained  for  an  hour 
and  a half,  and  some  of  the  time  they  were  remarkably 
distinct.  Late,  in  the  afternoon  the  sky  Avas  intensely  blue.’^ 

From  their  journal  we  make  the  following  extracts,  viz  ; 

“December  21st,  1870.  Messrs.  Kimball  and  Thompson  (a 
visitor,)  took  an  observation  from  the  roof  of  the  Tip-Top 
House’;  wind  60  miles  per  hour.  They  were  out  but  five 
minutes,  yet  their  coats,  . caps  and  hair  were  covered  with  frost 


65 


and  Mr.  Thompson  had  slightly  frozen  a finger.  Later,  the 
wind  had  fallen  to  30  miles  per  hour,  and  now,  eleven  o’clock, 
P.  M.,  it  is  moderate  for  Mount  Washington. 

“1870,  December  23d.  A cold  morning,  thermometer  zero, 
but  Ave  don’t  feel  the  cold  as  sensibly  as  in  the  lower  regions. 

“December  24th.  "Yesterday  afternoon  and  late  at  night  a 
‘snow  bank’  lay  along  the  south;  this  forenoon,  enow  was 
falling^with  a temperature  of — 13°,  at  times  during  the  day  the 
wind  was  as  high  as  70  miles  an  hour,  consequently,  we  were 
confined  to  the  house.  It  is  cold  to-night,  (now  nine  o’clock, 
P.  M.,)  the  thermometer  — 15°,  "^nd  only  42°  in  the  room, 
although  we  have  two  fires. 

“ December  25th;  There  were  no  clouds  above  or  around 
the  summit.  Below,  and  but  a little  lower  than  this  peak,  the 
clouds  were  dense  and  covered  an  extensive  tract  of  country. 
Through  the  less  dense  portion  of  the  lighter  clouds  the  sun’s 
rays  gave  a peculiar  rose  tint,  e^ctremely  beautiful  in  eflfect. 
* * * About  ten  o’clock,  A.  M.,  Mr.  K.  and  myself, 

wont  out  for  an  observation.  "We  had  the  pleasure  of  witness 
ing  the  formation  of  several  coronse,  sometimes  single,  but 
oftener  three;  even  on  one  occasion /owr  distinct  circles  appear- 
ing and  disappearing  so  rapidly  that  it  was  impossible  to  more 
than  catch  a glimpse  of  form  and  colour.  It  was  a phenomenon 
of  rare  beauty. 

“December.  29tb,  1870.  The  wind  has  been  increasing  all 
day.  ' At  7 o’clock,  A.  M.,  observations : wind,  46  miles  per 
hour;  at  2 o’clock,  P.  M.,  57  miles;  at  4 o’clock,  P.  M.,  72 
miles;  at  7 o’clock,  P.  M.,  46  miles ; and  at  9 o’clock,  P.  M., 
nearly  calm ; a great  change  in  14  hours,  especially  in  the 
last  tAvo  hours.  Barometer  has  fallen  rapidly  all  day. 

“December  30th,  1870.  The  morning  is  calm,  clear  and 
bcautifull  It  is  what  Ave  have  Avaited  a month  for.  We  com- 
menced AAmrk  making  negatives  at  sunrise.  In  the  morning 
we  made  a feAV  8 by  10  negatfA’’es,  but  as  AA-e  were  making  the 
last  of  them  the  Avind  freshened  up,  and  AA’e  could  not  make  as 
many  as  aa^c  wished.  * * * Before  I close  to-day’s  memo- 

randa I must  speak  of  the  splendid  Anew  we  had  afterthe  wind, 
by  bloAving  so  fiercely,  obliged  us  to  quit  work.  We  could  see 
distinctly  hundreds  of  mountains,  lakes,  ponds,  &c.  Off  to  the 
northeast  in  the  distance — one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  distant 
— Ave  see  Mount  Katahdin,  the  highest  mountain  in  Maine,  and 


6G 


II  little  to  the 'nortli  "vre  see  mountains  Avhicli  ap.parently  are 
much  farther  awaj^  than  Mount  Katahdin,  and  must  be  in  the 
upper  part  of  Maine,  near  Canada.  We  never  before  saw  the 
ocean  nearly  as  plain  as  to-day  ; '''"g  could  see  a great  distance 
‘to  sea.’  Off  to  the  southwest  Ave  could  sec  Kearsarge  mountain 
and  ^lonadnock,  and  over  the  Green  mountains,  the  Adiron- 
■dacks  and  Lake  Champlain,  in  northern  hTew  York,  were 
distinctly  visible.  About  2 o’clock,  P.  M.,  I noticed, a long  hazy 
line  over  the  ocean ; soon  it  grew  larger  and  then  I could  sec 
it  was  nearing  us,  and  in  an  hour  it  was  within  40  miles,  and 
we  could  see  it  as  a vast  sea^f  cumulus  clouds.  The  wind  was 
increasing,  and  had  chang'^  from  the  east  to  the  south,  and  it 
carried  the  appi’oaching  clouds  and  storm  to  the  north  of  us. 
We  were  thankful  to  see  it  go  by  without  striking  us,  for  it  is 
grand  to  behold  but  not  desirable  for  a covering.  To-night 
we  have  some  of  the  effects  of  it  in  the  wind,  which,  as  I write, 
is  blowing  a most,  violent  hurricane,  making  the  Observatory 
creak.  A few  hours  ago  the  wind  was  scarcely  noticeable  ; 

. now  its  velocity  is  over  eighty  miles  an  hour,  and  .for  a wonder 
■ it  comes  from  the  south,  instead  of  nortlnvest  as  usual,  and  as 
a natiu’al  consequence  it  tears  off’  all  the  loose  ice  and  frost 
from  the  Observatory.’  It  seems  as  if  we  Avere  at  sea  in  a 
severe  gale,  and  broken  ice  and  timbers  were  beating  against 
our  ship,  and  at  times  our  building  shakes  like  a vessel  in  a 
storm.  Contrary  to  what  ordinary  experience  would  seem  to 
teach,  the  north  side  of  the  building  is  less  exposed  to  the  fury 
of  the  element  than  any  other.”  This  is  OAving  to  its  haAong 
but  one  electricity.  ' 

■Yow,  why  docs  not  the  north  wind,  or  the  northwest  wind, 
produce  similar  effects?  The  sun  shines  upon  both  Avinds 
alike,  and  if  it  sends  doAvn  heat  to  this  planet,  the  northwest 
wind  should  be  as  warm  as  tire  south  wind,  and  should  tear  off 
the  frost-Avmrk  from  buildings  and  rocks  just  as  the  south  Avind 
does,  But  no  such  effects  are  observed  during  the  preA-a- 
lence  of  these  porthern  Avinds;  on  the  contrary,  it  is  Only  while 
these  northern  winds  are  blowing  in  winter  that  this  frost- 
Avork  is  formed. 

The  explanation  I conceive  to  be  this:  the  southern  winds 
coming  from  a warm  atmosphere  are  positively  electrified, 
and  when  theyreach  the  frost  work  on  the  buildings  or  rocks 
oppositely  electrified,  their  impact  produces  friction,  which 
evoh'ing  more  positive  electricity,  develops  heat  that  detaches 
the  frost  work  from  its  adhesions,  breaks  it  into  pieces,  and 


67 


finally  melts  into  water — while  other  frost  work  protected 
from  the  south  wind  remains  firm  and  unaffected,  the  tem- 
jterature  of  ' the  atmosphere  being  below  the  freezing  point  of 
water.  “ A telegraphic  wire  connected  the  Observatdr}  with 
liiarshfield,  a distance  of  three  miles,  where  it  is  joined  with 
the  Western  Union  Company's  line,  at  Littleton,  twenty-three 
miles  farther.  The  wire  has  frequently  been  charged  with, 
atmospheric  electricity,  especially  in  the  afternoon  of  the  7th  of 
January,  1871,  when,  on  account  of  the  high  tension  of  these, 
eurrents,  it  became  utterly  unmanageable.  When  the  kew 
was  opened,  the  flow  of  the  current  still  continued,  exhibiting- 
bright  spai’ks,  leaping  from  one  platinum  point  to  the  other.. 
After  dark,  no  auroral  display  could  be  seen.  There  is  also 
wire  connecting  the  summit  with  the.  G-len  House,  which  is- 
detached  from  the  poles  and  laid  upon  the  ground  during  the^ 
winter,  to  protect  it  from  the  violent  winds  prevailing  at  this: 
season.  We  had  it  attached  to  an  instrument,  and,  althonglr 
no  battery  was  used,  we  discovered  that  it  was  sometimes 
charged  with . electric  currents,  which  deflected  the  needle* 
considerably.  The  Glen  wire  was  broken  about  a mile  and  . 
a half  from  the  summif,  and  the  one  down  the  railway  had 
parted  at  about  the  same  distance,  thus  making  thephenomenoa 
quite  remarkable. 

“ 1871,  Januai’y  10th.  After  ten,  A.  M.,  the  summit  was  freo 
from  clouds,  but  below  masses  of  clouds  were  driven  along  the 
valleys  and  over  the  lower  summits.  The  clouds  about  and 
over  gave  grand  effects  of  light  and  shade  along  the  mountain 
range — they  were  particularly  fine  on  Adams  and  Jefferson 
and  near  the  Glen.  The  snow’  is  nearly  all  off  the  houses  and 
the' rocks — a great  change  in  three  days’  time.  I cannot  leh 
this  da}’’  pass  without  a mention  of  the  high  temperature:  at 
one  o’clock,  P.  M.  it  was  37°.  Like  April  it  seemed,  but 
■'vho  knows  what  it  wull  be  to-morrow  ? 

“January  14th.  Last  night  we  saw  a fine  aurora,  broken 
arches  with  streamers , never  before  was  one  apparently  so 
near;  it  certainly  did  look  as  though  it  \vas  within  reach. 

“ January  16th.  Still  raining;  at. eleven  o’clock  this  fore- 
noon, Mr.  S.  started  out  on  a voyage  of  discovery,  but  it  rained 
so  hard  and  the  w'alking  was  so  difficult  that  he  soon  came 
back.  =!:**.  ^ent  down  to  the  spring  to-day  and 

brought  up  a pail  of  w’ater.  A w'eek  ago  this  w'as  an  arctic 
region,  now  it  is  more  like  April  in  the  valleys  of  Hew 
Hampshire. 


cs 

“ January  17th,  The  wind  was  high  during  the  night,  say 
eighty  miles  per  hour ; at  7 o’clock,  A.  M.,  to-day,  only  75  miles 
• per  hour,  strong  enough  however  to  compel  Mr.  11.  to  sit 
while  he  measured  the  force  of  the  wind  that  he  might,  not 
be  blown  over  into  Tuckerman’s  ravine.  * * * * JXas 

blown  stilSl}'’  all  day,  yet  we  have  taken  the  air  several  times; 
pleasant  walks  in  the  face  of  a fifty  mile  breeze.  Perfectly 
clear  at  sunset.  Had  one  of  the  best  views  of  the  shadow  of 
Mount  ‘Washington  on  the  sky  yet  obtained.  The  mountains 
far  and  near  look  dull  and  gray  now  since  the  rains. 

“ 1871,  January  19.  Mr.  R.  called  us  out,  before  sunrise,  to 
see  the  beauty  of  the  morning ; in  truth  it  was  wicked  to  miss 
such  a glorious  view  as  we  had.  Perfectly  clear,  and  nearly 
calm.  Hever  before  liave  I seen  the  shadow  of  the  mountain 
so  grand  on  the  western  sky,  never  so  charming  the  purple 
tints  at  break  of  day.  Hever  so  impressive  have  been  the 
shaded  outlines,  the  lights  and  shadows  on  the  mountains  and 
in  the  valleys,  as  on  this  memorable  morning.  Sunset  was 
J)Ut,  the  complement  of  the  morning,'  and  the  evening  is  beau- 
tiful as  ever  night  can  be,  the  stars  shine  with  a light  as  soft 
as  June,  all,  all  is  beautiful. 

“ January  22, 1871.  Having  a gale  to-day,  and  not  only  a high 
wind  but  a temperature  below  any  thing  I have  ever  expe- 
rienced before;  now,  at  nine,  P.  M.,  — 34  degrees  inside  the  door; 
at  two,  P.  M.,  wind  72  miles  per  hour.  Professor  11.  measured  ^ 
the  velocity,  he  had  to  sit  with  a line  around  him,  myself  at 
the  other  end  indoors  as  an  anchor ; even  then  it  was  impos- 
sible for  .him  to  keep  his  position.  Temperature — 31  degrees. 

I put  up  a pendulum,  this  morning,  in  our  room,  it  is  four  feet 
long,  and  the  rod  passes  through  a sheet  of  cardboard,  on 
which  are  marked  the  points  of  the  compass.  The  oscillations, 
when  the  wind  blew  in  gusts,  were  in  every  direction,  chang- 
■ ing  suddenly,  and  sometimes  had  a rotary  motion.  '\Wien  the 
wind  was  steady,  the  oscillations  were  northwest  and  southeast. 
‘With  two  fires  the  room  is  cold  to  night. 

“ January  23,  1871.  The  wind  raged  all  night.  The  house 
rocked  fearfully,  towards  morning  the  wind  ceased,  and  all 
day  it  has  been  nearly  calm.  The  temperature  outride  — 43 
degrees.  Professor  H.  and  myself  sat  up  all  night  to  keep  the 
fires  going.  The  pendulum  gave  oscillations  of  an  inch  and  a 
half  at  times  during  the  night.  Temperature  to-night  at  ten 
o’clock — 40  degrees;  a changeable  climate  this. 


69 


“January  31,  1871.  The  most  glorious  sunrise  this  winter. 
To  the  east  was  a sea  of  clouds  broken  and  much  lower  than 
usual.  The  protruding  peaks  resembled  islands,  more  than 
ever  before ; over  noTthern  Xew  Hampshire  and  Maine,  and 
along  the  coast,  the  clouds  .were  very  dense,  but  their  upper 
surface,  as  the  sun  shone  across  them,  was  of  dazzling  bright- 
ness, while  singular  forms  of  cirrus  clouds  overcast-  the  sky. 
Low  in  the  west  it  was  intensely  black,  and  detached  masses 
of  clouds  floated  along  the  northern  horizon.  For  an  hour 
after  sunrise  all  these  cloud  forms  were  constantly  changing 
in  colour — purple  and  crimson,  leaden  hues  and  rose  tiht.s, 
almost  black  and  dazzling  white. 

“February  1, 1871.  Clouds  on  the  summit  till  noon,  when  it 
suddenly  cleared  up.  Early  in  the  forenoon,  the  wind  was 
fully  50  miles  per  hour,  at  noon  it  was  nearly  calm,  and  till 
nine,  P.  M.,  not  above  20  miles  per  hour.  At  nine,  P.  M.,  tlie 
thermometer  indicated  — 16  degrees. 

“From  3.30,  P.  M.,  to  sunset,  there  were  the  finest  clotid  dis- 
plays posgfble.  Eastward,  heavy  masses  of  clouds,  in  color  from 
gray  to  an  intense  black.  Westward,  detached  cirro-stratus, 
presenting  every  shade  and  colour;  along  the  northern  horizon 
a clear  light  rested;  the  west  was  burning  bright  in  crimson, 
purple,  and  gold,  while  far  south,  fading  out  toward  the  east 
into  gi’ay,  the  colour  was  a delicate  rose  tint.  Below,  to  the. 
west,  far  as  we  could  see,  the  Avhole  country  was  covered  with 
cloud.  The  icy  peaks  glow'  and  glisten  in  the  bright  sunlight. 
The  transitions  of  shades  and  tints,  the  colours,  burning  into 
the  radiant  sunset,  surpassing  any  thing  we  have  seen  yet  for 
a sunset  scene,  mark  this  as  a day  never  to  be  forgotten — as  I 
write,  it  seems  like  a dream. 

“1871,  February  2d.  All  day  the  wind  has  been  light,  and 
it  was  nearly  calm  this  evening  till  half  an  hour  since,  when, 
without  any  warning,  (except  the  falling  in  the  barometer,)- 
the  .gale  began,  not  with  a rising  wind,  but  with  a single  blast 
that  shook  the  house  to  its  foxmdations.  * * * How,  at 

11  o’clock,  P.  M.,  the  wind  has  risen  to  the  dignity  of  a gale. 
The  temperature  — 20°  out  of  doors.  ^ 

“Friday,  February  3d.  W ell,  it  did  bloAv  last  night,  making 
some  of  the  time  such  a racket  out-doors  and  in-doors  too,'for 
thatiiiatter,  that  sleep  was  out  of  the  question.  The  wind  must 
have  been  as  high  as  90  miles  per  hour  during  several  of  the 
heaviest  gusts.  For  a change  to-day,  we  got  the  most  severe 


70 


enow  storm  of  tlie  winter  so  far.  The  wind  is  northwest,  the 
point  from  which  our  storms  and  hurricanes  come.  At  no 
time  has  the  temperature  been  higher  than  5°;  it  was  — 25°  this 
morning  at  7 o’clock. 

“ Saturday,  February  4th,  9 o’clock,  P.  M.  The  wind  rising 
towai'd  morning  has  held  its  own  all  day,  at  no  time  being 
below  75  miles,  and  since  8.30,  acts  as  if  it  was  ambitious  to 
attain  the  90  miles  per  hour  standard.  At  7 o’clock,  A.  M., 
temperature  — 33°;  from  5 o’clock,  P.  M.,  to  this  last  observa- 
tion it  has  gradually  worked  down  to -^0°.  '\Vo  have  not 
suffered  from  the  cohi  simply  because  we  have  not  exposed 
ourselves  to  it,  In  the  room  at  no  time  has  the  temperature 
been  lower  than  34°,  and  most  of  the  time  we  have  managed 
to  keep  it  up  to  about  60°.  ’ To  do  this,  we  have  the  stoves  at 
a red  heat;  the  thermometer  hangs  precisely  five  feet  from 
the  stove;  ten  feet  from  the  stove  at  the  floor,  to-day,  the 
temperature  was  only  12°,  at  the  same  time  was  65°  in  other 
parts  of  the  room.  Midnight — really  there  is  quite  a breeze 
just  now.  Some  of  the  gusts,  from  what  we  know  of  the 
jueasured  force,  must  be  fully  up  to  100  miles  per  hour.  In 
fact  it  is  a first-class  hurricane.  The  wind  is  northwest,  and 
as  the  house  .is  broadside  to  it,  the  full  force  is  felt;  at  times 
it‘ seems  as  if  every  thing  was  going  to  wreck.  We  go  to  the 
door  and  look  oiit  ; it  is  the  most  we  can  do  ; to  step  beyond, 
with  nothing  for  a hold  fast,  one  Avould  take  passage  on  the 
wings  of.  the  wind  hi  the  direction  of  Tuckerman’s  ravine. 
However  unwillingly  one  might  go,  such  would  be  the  result 
if  he  should  Venture  outside,  so  irre.sistible  is  the  force  of  the 
w'i.nd.  What  varied  sound  the  wind  has  as  it  changes,  now 
howling,  screecliin.g,  roaring  as  though  the  building  was  sur- 
rounded by  demoniac  spirits,  bent  upon  our  destruction.  We 
shout  across  the  room  to  be  heard.  Xow  it  suddenly  lulls, 
and  moaning  and  sighing  it  dies  away;  then  quickly  gathering 
strength,  it  blows  as'  if  it  would  hurl  the  house  from  the 
summit.  The  timbers  creak  and  groan  and  the  windows 
rattle;  the  walls  bend  in-ward ; and  as  the  wind  lets  go  its  hold, 
rebound  with  a jerk  that  starts  the  joints  again.  The  noise  is 
like  rili.e  firing  in  fifty  different  directions,  at  the  same  moment 
in  the  room— a moment  ago  close  by  me  as  I sat  here,  leaning 
against  the  wall,  now  in  the  outer  room  or  up  aloft  and  out- 
side as  well.  Then  there  is  the  trembling  and  groaning  of 
the  whole  building,  which  is  constant.  Everything  movable 
is  on  the  move,  books  drops  from  the'  shelves,  we  pick  them 
uj),  replace  them  only  to  do  it  again  and  again.  The  tempera- 
ture is  now — 10°. 


71 


“ Sunday,  February  5tb,  From  one  to  two  o’clock,  A.  M.,  tbe 
wind  was  liigber  than  during  the  early  part  of  the  night. 
Some-  of  the  gusts  must  have  been  above  100,  possibly  110 
miles  per  hour.  The  tempest  roared  and  thundered.  It  had 
precisely  the  sound  of  the  ocean  waves  breaking  on  a rocky 
shore,  and  the  building  had  the  motion  of  a .ship  scudding 
before  a gale.  At  3 o’clock,  A M.,  the  temperature  had 
fallen  to  — 59°,  and  the  barometer  stood  at  22.810,  attached 
thermometer  62°.  Barometer  was  lowest  yesterday  at  8 A.  M., 
when  it  was  22.508,  and  attached  thermometer  32°.  Isow,  7 A. 
M.,  the  thermometer  indicates  — 25°,  and  the  wind  has  fallen  to 
70  miles  per  hour.  By  accident,  the  spirit  thermometer  has  not 
yet  been  received.  But  this  has  been  the  only  day  when  the 
mercurial  instrument  has  not  been  perfectly  reliable.  The 
valleys  are  foil  of  stratus  clouds  ; charged  with  frost  as  they 
are,  occasionally  sweeping  over  the  summit,  they  completely 
cover  one  in  a moment,  hair,  beard  and  clothing;  when  the 
face  is  exposed  it  feels  like  the  touch  of  hot  iron.  To  breathe 
this  frosty  air  is  very  unpleasant.  A full  inhalation  induces  a 
severe  coughing  fit. 

“ Monday,  February  6th,  9 A.  M.  Talked  oyer  the  events  of 
the  past  night  at  the  breakfast  table.  * * Of  all  the  nights 
since  this  party  came  here,  the  last  exceeds  every  one.  9 P . 
M. ; it  has  been  a rough  day,  down  in  the  world  people  would 
say  a severe  one,  so  should  we  but  for  the  recollection  of  last 
night;  our  coal  bin  is  under  two  feet  of  snow,  and  anywhere 
in  the  room,  that  snow  is  six  inches  deep.  The  highest  teni- 
pex-ature  is  to-day  12°,  and  the  lowest  now,  at  9 o’clock,  P.  M., 
is  2°,  a very  acceptable  change — wind  50  miles  in  the  fore- 
noon, now  20  miles  per  hour,  is  good  as  a calm.  It  is  clear, 
and  the  moonlight  is  that  of  the  niountain,  seen  only  at  this  or . 
higher  elevations. 

“Tuesday,  Febniary  7.  A glorious  sunrise;  a quite  warm 
dav,  and  at  sunset  almost  equal  to  that,  of  the  1st;  tempera- 
ture at  2 o’clock,  P.  M.,  62°  in  the  sun;  change  of  temperature 
since  Sunday  of  121°.” 

These  sudden  and  great  valuations  of  temperature  in  the 
same  latitude  elevation  above  the  sea,  and  identical  locality, 
in  short  spaces  of  time,  are  strong  evidences  that  the  tempera- 
ture'of  our  atmosphere  is  exclusively  to  be  attributed  to 
electrical  causes  within  it,  and  not  to  any  supposed  rays  of 
heat  emanating  from  the  sun. 


“Tuesday,  February  7th.  I have  given  some  time  this  after- 
oon  to  the  study  of  cloud  formations.  Days  like  this  are  so 
rare,  that  we  improve  every  opportunity  for  investigation. 
Gales,  sTorms,  hurricanes,  all  clear  off  with  a north  wind — a 
wind  gentle  and  soft  as  the  south  wind  of  the  lower  regions. 
How  can  this  he  explained?  It  is  S.  S.  to-night  and  2 
miles  per  hour;  a marked  contrast  to  Sunday  morning.’ 

Let  us  attempt  an  explanation  of  this  phenomenon : Tnicn 
masses  of  clouds,  freighted  with  moisture,  and  at  different 
elevations,  approach  each  other,  attracted  hy  their  opposite 
electricities,  heat  is  evolved  hy  their  conjunction.  The  watery 
vapour  constituting  the  clouds  undergoes  a radical  change ; 
the  atmospheric  air,  which  holds  the  water  in  suspension, 
absorbing  the  heat  that  is  evolved  hy  the  conjunction  of  the 
opposite  electricities  of  the  clouds  in  commixture,  is  so  greatly 
expanded  and  rarefied  that  its  molecules  can  no  longer  sustain 
the  particles  of  water  with  which  they  had  been  associated ; 
this  attenuated  air,  thus  heated,  leaves  the  watery  particles, 
and  being  positively  electi’ified,  is  attracted  hy  the  opposite 
electricity  of  the  higher  atmosphere  and  ascends  instantly  into 
it,  while  the  Avater  being  negatively  electrified  is  repelled  from 
the  air  above,  and  begins,  to  fall  in  sheets,  Avhich  soon  separate 
into  drops,  repelling  each  other,  and  carrying  to  the  earth  the. 
electricity  in  a latent  form  with  which  they  were. associated. 
When  the  clouds  have  thus  discharged  all  their  water  as  hail, 
snow  or  rain,  to  the  earth,  the  atmosphere  - in  which  they 
floated  becomes  very  dry  and  electrical.  The  north  wind, 
Avarmed  by  the  heated  air  AA-hieh  has  escaped  from  the  clouds 
when  they  met,  is  attracted  to  the  spaces  before  occupied  by 
the  clouds  in  the  direction  of  the  ocean  and  becomes  the 
gentle,  balmy  air  described  by  these  observers,  and  as  dry  air 
has  an  electricity  ahvays  opposed  to  that  of  moist  air,  the 
north  wind  at  Mount  Washington  ahvays  is  attracted  to  the 
Atlantic  ocean  to  the  south  of  the  mountain,  and  storms  thus 
terminate  in  that  locality  with  a north  wind. 

“ WednesdaA',  February  8th.  Ten  o’clock,  P.  !M.  There  is 
evidently  a snow  storm  along  the  coast,  the  northern  edge, 
within  fifty  miles  of  us.  This  forenoon  we  could  see  the  storm 
as  it  moved  eastward.  It  aauis  cloudy  and  clear  by  turns  on 
the  summits,  that  is,  the  loAver  current  of  cloud. rested  at  times 
over  us.  The  valleys  east  were  full,  and  the  upper  stratum 
OA'ercast  the  entire  country  as  far  as  could  be  seen.  Wind 
S.  S.‘W.,  from  20  to  50  miles  per  hour.  Temperature  from 


73 


14°,  at  7 o clock  A.  M.,  to  20°  at  2P.  M.  Interesting  to  watek 
the  progress  of  the  storm  and  to  see  tke  lower  current  of  cloud 
driven  by  an  easterly  wind,  running  under  the  higher  stratum, 
which  of  course  is  toward  the  northeast. 

Let  us  here  stop  to  admire  the  infinite  wisdom  of  the 
Creator,  who,  using  the  attractive  forces  of  his  electricities  to 
gather  and  collect  the  watery  vapours  of  the  atmosphefe  into 
clouds,  disperses  them  by  the  repellent  forces  of  these  same 
electricities  and  scatters  in  this  way  their  manifold  watery 
blessings  over  greatly  increased  areas  of  the  surface  of  the 
earth. 

“ Thursday,  February  16th.  A storm  of  snow  and  rain.  It 
rains  here,  wdth  the  thermometer  at  22°,  as  it  did  to-day,  and 
snows  with  it  at  30°,  as  might  be  expected.  Why  it  should 
rain  at  22°  is  hard  to  explain.  Wind  steady;  southwest 
through  the  day ; but,  at  8.20  P.  M.,  changed  suddenly  to 
northwest  in  gusts,  60  to  80  miles  per  hour.  Forgot  to  men- 
tion last  night,  that  at  6.30  P.  M.  I read  from  the  ‘Atlantic^ 
in  the  open  air.  Our  days  are  about  46  minutes  longer  than 
they  are  at  the  sea  level.” 

• The  warm  southwest  wind  explains  the  |rain  at  22°,  which 
was  probably  the  temperature  outside  of  the  column  of  warm 
. air  brought  up  by  the  southwest  wind. 

“ Sunday,  Februaiy  19th.  A bright,  sunny  day,  clear  and 
calm,  yet  the  temperature  was  at  no  time  higher  than  8°.” 
Where  was  the  sun’s  heat  ? 

“ Tuesday,  February  21st.  When  S.  left  this  morning  the 
thermometer  read  — 4°,  and  wind  20  miles  per  hour;  at  the 
Gulf  Tank  it  was  so  warm  he  had  to  lay  aside  overcoat  and 
gloves ; no  wind  there ; the  -snow  was  melting  and  the  water 
running  down  the  centre  rail;  quite  a contrast  to  the  summit, 
only  one  mile  distant — meteorologically  speaking,  he  was  300 
miles  south  of  his  mountain  home,  though  in  sight  of  it.  We 
took  a walk.  Fine  weather  for  a. change.  Beautiful  cloud 
views  this  afternoon.  Light  fleecy  clouds  floating  over  Mount 
Monroe.  Dissolved  before  reaching  Tuckerman’s  ravine.  They 
passed  between  us  and  the  sun,  showing  the  prismatic  colors  ; 
then  as  they  x-olled  eastward,  gradually  faded  out  and  changed 
to  a cold  gray.  The  transitions  of  light  and  shade  were  inex- 
pressibly beautiful,  enough  to  give  sensations  of  pleasure  to 
the  dullest  observer,  and  drive  an  artist  crazy  with  delight. 


74 


The  buildings  are  cased  in  ice  and  frost  worls:  of  most  elegant 
forms,  resembling  rocks,  flowers,  leaves,  shells  and  the  wings 
of  birds. 

“February’-  24th.  From  9 o!clock  A.  M.  to  3 P.  M.  the  tem- 
perature varied  hut  a deg^-ee  or  two  from  37°  ; the  barometer, 
steady.  ^ 

“February  27th.  This  time  we  are  favoured  with  a rain 
storm,  pouring  Avhen  it  was  calm,  and  in  driving  sheets  after 
. the  wind  rose  to  84  miles  per  hour.  At  9 A.  hi.  it  changed 
to  snow,  and  then,  by  turns,  rain  for  a moment,  then  quickly 
changing  to  snow,  and  suddenly  rain  again;  but  the  snow 
obtained  the  mastery. 

“February  28.  If  cleared  oflT early  in  the  morning.  Wind 
from  50  to  70  miles  per  hour.  The  mean  temperature,  zero. 

“ March  3.  A storm  seemed  to  be  brewing  last  night  at  a 
late  hour,  and  early  it  came,  a heavy  rain  storm.  Towards 
noon  the  wind,  rose,  and  at  One  P.  M.,  it  blew  96  miles  per 
hour.  How  the  wind  roared  in  the  flue  ! How  the  house 
shook  ! Had  to  shout  across  the  room  to  be  heard.  It  was 
grand,  however,  l^Tom  4 o’clock  P.  M.  the  wind  abated. 

“ March  23.  At  9 P.  !M.,  snow  squalls  to  the  northea^.,  and 
the  clouds  gradually  settling  in  the  valleys.  * * * * J3y 

2 P.  M.  the  mountain  was  in  the  clouds.  They  were  at  a 
higher  elevation  than  has  , generally  been  ■ the  case — cirro 
stratus;  color  gray;  uniform  in  density  nearly  over  the  entire 
field  of  view.  * * * * Evidently  the  lower  current  was 

from  the  east,  while  the  wind  on  the -summit  was  west  north- 
west. * * * * The  clouds  passed  over  Mount  Adams, 

and  later  over  the  dividing  ridge,  between  Mounts  Washington 
and  Clay.  They  seemed  to  curve,  as  they  passed  over  these 
mountain  tops,  as  though  the  upper  currents  of  air  conformed 
to  their  irregularities  of  surface.”  [The  mountains  and  the 
clouds  having  the  same  electricities,  which  repelled  each 
other. — The  Author.']  . * 

“ When  there  are  two  strata  of  clouds,  they  unite  before  the 
snow  or  rain  falls,  as  a rule,  though  to-day  the  snow  fell  an 
hour  previous  to  the  clouds  settling  on  the  mountains. 

“April  1.  To-day,  64  degrees  in  the  sun,  at  11  A.  M. 
Afterwards  cooler — 15  degrees  at '9  P.  M.  * * * * 

northeast  wind  to-night,  seldom-  from  that  quarter. 


* * * 


“ April  3.  * * * * Sucli  is  the  atmosphere  here,  that 

iilthough  the  thermonaeter,  iu  the  shade,  marked  27  degrees,  I 
wore  neither  hat  nor  coat,  and  yet  was  warm  enough. 


“April  4.  'All  the  forenoon, -till  one  P.  M.,  the  summit 
was  in  a dense  cloud.  Suddenly  it  lifted,  and  then  we  had 
the  most  gorgeous  display  of  cloud-scenes  we  have  yet  wit- 
nessed. Eastward,  masses  of  cumuli  rested  over  the  valleys 
and  the  mountains.  Why  not  call  them  mountains  of  clouds  ? 
(■ertainly.  They  rose  far  above  our  level,  six  thousand  or 
perhaps  eight  thousand  feet  higher  than  this  peak.  They  con- 
formed to  the  heights  over  which  they  lay,  and  seemed  to 
envelop  other  mountains,  nearly  as  lofty  as  their  upper  limits. 
The  illusion  was  perfect,  and  Mount  Washington  in  compari- 
son, was  a diminutive  spur,  or  outlying  peak  of  this  great 
mountain  range.  * . * * * sun  rises  high,  but  we 

knoiv  nothing  of  Spring.  Truly  it  is  more  like  Winter  than 
some  of  the  time  in  March.  Then  there  was  no  snow.  hTow,  ■ 
everywhere  there  are  snow  and  ice. 

“ April  6.  • A clear  sunrise — cold— thermometer  only.  3 
degrees,  the  wind  20  miles  per  hour,  and  the  morning  view, 
that  of  December.  Though  clear,  the  sun  gave  little  heat— -a 
pale  Avhite  light ; the  sky  a light  blue,  and  so  clear,  that  it 
seemed  almost  as  though  we  could  see  beyond  its  bounds,  or 
through  it  into  the  regions  of  space. 

“April  15.  The  rule  holds  good;  .no  two  days  alike  on 
Mount  Washington.  Ten  hours  we  had  splendid  cloud-effects 
in  every  direction;  cumuli  north,  in  every  form  beaiutiful  and 
fantastic,  and  colors  as  though  some  radiant  angel  had  thrown 
aside  his  robe  of  light. 

“ April  28.  ■ To  show  tlie  changes  in  temperature  here,  in  a 
few  feet  of  altitude,  I note  my  trips  down,  to-day,  and  up  as 
well.  Left  the  house  at  4.30  P.  M.;  wind  30  mites  an  hour; 
at  the  Lizzie  Bourne  monument,  40  miles;  at  the  Gulf  House 
ruins  and  below,  60  miles,  thus  reversing  the  order  of  things 
in  regard  to  wind.  Thermometer  on  the  summit  28°;  frost- 
work forming  some  distance  below  the:  monument.  At  the 
Gulf  Tank,  when  the  sun  came  out,  as  it  did  several  times,  the 
ice  on  my  cap  would  thaw  completely;  then,  while  the  cloiid 
was  passing,  icicles  two  inches  in  length  would  form  on  the 
visor.  It  was  difficult  to  work  or  even  stand  against  the  wind 
below  the  Gulf  House  ruins.  .Keturning,  the  wind  was  not  so 
violent. 


76 


“May  1.  May  Day,  and  still  it  is  winter;  every  aspect  is 
that  of  mid-winter.  The  spring  near  the  Observatory  remains 
frozen  solid,  and  so  we  daily  melt  ice  for  nse,  and  yet  down 
the  mountain  a half  mile  there  is  seldom  a day  when  the 
stteams  are  not  running. 

“ !May  4,  Another  tough  snow-storm  -^  * * * wind  got 

up  to  48  miles  per  hour  and  temperature  down  to  21°. 

“ May  5.  The  storm — ^snowing  in  such  a wintry  way  last 
night — turned  to  rain  toward  morning,  and  has  been  raining 
all  day.  * ■*  * The  wind  was  Avest  here — not  higher  than 

five  miles  per  hour — yet  in  the  valleys  it  must  have  been  much 
stronger,  judging  by  the  velocity  of  the  clouds;  besides,  wo 
could  hear  distinctly  its  almost  roar. 

“ Monday,  May  6.  This  morning,  clear,  calm  and  warm. 
The  thermometer,  at  8 o’clock  A.  M.,  indicated  85°  in  the 
sun ; warmest  morning  this  spring. 

“May  7.  The  barometer  fell  50-100ths  from  last  night  at  9 
o’clock  to  this  morning  at  7 o’clock.  Wind  rising  at  3 o’clock 
A.  M.;  reached  its  highest  velocity,  G7  miles  per  hour,  at  2 
o’clock  P.  M. — highest  recorded  for  some  time,  quite  strongly 
reminding  us  of  the  winter  months.  Snowing  all  day.  * * * 
At  5 o’clock  P.  M.  the  cloud  passed  otf  and  we.  could  see  that 
not  the  mountains  alone,  but  the  lower  country  as  well  was 
‘ snpAv-bouird.’  At  9.40  P.  M.  snowing  again.  Temperature, 
2 o’clock  P.  M.,  21° — highest  for  the  day — aud  19°  at  9. 
o’clock  P.  M.  . 

“May  8.  We  did  have  a rough  night;  called  tue  wind  80 
miles  per  hour  at  midnight.  Temperature  at  7 A.  M.,  15°. 

“ !May  9.  Mountain  peaks  white  as  winter,  but  the  valleys 
are  bare.  The  frost  Avork  has  seldom  been  more  beautiful. 
Measured  some  feathers  to-day,  on  a tall  pole,  at  the  Tip-Top 
-House  ; found  them  36  inches  in  length,  and  on  a rock  south 
of  the  house  49  inches  in  length  and  15  inches  broad. 

■ “ May  11th.  AAvintry  sky  and  Avinter  scenery  this  morning. 
The  sky  a pale  blue  and  the  sunshine  Jhat  of  Jlecembcr.  * * 

*-  * Temperature  20°  at  7 o’clock  A.  M. 

“May  14th.  The  Avind  was  high  as  80  miles  per  hour,  if  not 
higher,  during  the  night.  All  day,  as  usual,  it  has  been  cloudy 
and  frost  work  forming.  Temperature  at  7 A.  M.  Avas  11°, 
aud  highest  for  the  dayat  9 P.  M.,  21° ; at  no  time  the  Avind 


lower  than  46  miles  per  hour.  Mr.  IT.  left  at  9 A.  ]\I.  in  the 
face  of  a 48-mile  gale  and  the  temperature  only  14°.  I am 
auxieus  for  his  safety,  and  shall  he  till  S.  returns. 

The  winter  s work  is  done.  Storms  of  unparalleled  severity, 
when,  for  days  in  succession,  the  summit  , was  enveloped  in 
clouds,  and  the  hurricanes  lasted  longer  and  were  more  vio- 
lent than  any  yet  recorded  in  the  United  States,  together  with 
very  low  temperatures,  have  been  a part  of  our  experiences. 
Just  such  an  experience  has  seldom  before  been  the  lot  of 
human  beings.  * * =(=  And  ours  has  been  the  good  for- 

tune to  witness  some  of  'the  most  magnificent  winter  scenery 
upon  which  mortal  eyes  ever  rested,  scenery  of  transcendent 
grandeur  and  views  surpassingly  beautiful. 

_ “ There  were  days  when  the  shifting  views  of  each  hour  fur- 
nish(^d  new  wonders  and  new  beauties,  in  the  play  of  sunlio-ht 
and  changing  cloud-forms,  every  hour  a picture  in  itself  and 
perfect  iu  details.  Sunsets,  too,  when  an  ocean  of  cloud  sur- 
rounded this  island-like  summit,  the  only  one  of  all  the  many 
high  peaks  visible  above  the  cloud  billows,  all  else  of  earth 
hidden  from  sight;  there  were  times. when  this  aerial  sea  was 
burnished  silver,  smooth  and  calm,  ancKtimes  when  its  tossing 
waves  were  tipped  with  crimson  and  golden  fife.  * * * » 

Gone  are  the  long  days  and  longer  nights,  when  the  stoves 
failed  to  comfortably  warm  the  little  room,  though  we  kept 
them  at  a red  heat,  and  when  the  thermometer  indicated  66  ' 
near  the  stove  and  4°  at  the  floor  ten  feet  distant.” 

Wo  have  presented  these  extracts  from  the  published  obseiv- 
ations  of  the  gentlemen  who  passed  the  winter  of  the  years 
1870-1871  on  Mount  Washington,  to  show  the  sudden  and 
great  variations  of  temperature  that  occurred  on  the  mountain 
by  day  as  well  as  by  night,  and  that  these  variations  could 
not  have  resulted  from  solar  radiations  of  heat,  as  sometimes 
when  the  atmosphere  was  the  clearest  and  freest  from  vapour, 
and  when  the  sun  was  shining  with  the  greatest  brilliancy, 
the  temperature  on  the  mountain  was  lower  than  when  these 
conditions  of  the  sun  and  atmosphere  did  not  exist,  and 
further,  when  the  sun  had  passed  the  vernal  equinox,  and- 
was  approaching  the  summer  solstice,  the  temperature  on  the 
mountain,  and  the  condition  of  its  atmosphere,  continued  still 
to  be  wintry,  unaftected  by  the  change  in  the  position  of  the 
sun,  relatively  to  the  angles  of  incidence  of  its  rays. 

When  we  consider  the  altitude  of  Mount  Washin^on, 


78 


wliich.  is  only  6,293  feet  alcove  the  sea  level,  or  not  mucli 
more  than  one  mile,  we  find  that  its  projection  above  the 
periphery  of  the  earth  would  he  about  1-8000  part  of  the 
earth’s  diameter,  a protuberance  so  slight  as  to  be  wholly 
inappreciable  at  the  sun’s  distance  of  92,000,000  of  miles  from 
it.  What  proportion  of  solar  radiation  ot  heat  (if  there  is 
such  a thing,)  could  fall  upon  so  microscopical  a spot  as 
Mount  Washington,  cannot  therefore  readily  be  imagined. 
But  when  we  contemplate  the  electrical  forces  of  our  planet 
developed  by  sunlia^ht,  the  radiation  of  interior  terrestrial 
heat  into  the  atmospliere — the  movernents  of  oppositely  elec- 
trified currents  of  air,  and  the  commingling  ot  tumultuous 
masses  of  cumuli  clouds,  all  evolving  heat  and  changing  vith 
great  suddenness  the  temperature  of  various  localities,  _we 
begin  to  comprehend  the  plan  of  the  Creator  in  furnishing 
each  planet  with  its  own  sources  of  heat,  instead  of  attempting 
to  supply  them  with  heat  through  almost  interminable  spaces, 
from  so  distant- an  orb  as  the  sun.  To  an  observer  outside  of 
our  atmosphere,  looking  down  upon  our  planet,  he  would  see 
sometimes  masses  of  dense  clouds,  which,  intercepting  the 
sunlight  would  cast  dark  shadows  of  various  forms  and  sizes 
proportional  to  the  clouds  which  would  form  them  on  the 
surface  of  the  earth.  ' The  darkness  of  the  shadow  would  be 
in  proportion  to  the  depth  and  density  of  the  clouds  floating 
between  the  sunlight  and  the  earth,  ■ These  shadows  would 
' flit  across  our  earth  as  rapidly  as  the  clouds  which  had  pro- 
duced them,  in  great  storms  or  hurricanes  of  perhaps  100 
or  more  miles  per  hour.  JSTow  may  not  tfie  sun  spots  which 
have  so  much  exercised  our  astronomers  be  produced  m a 
similar  way  ? Clouds  or  vapours  of  various  luminosity  being 
interposed  between  the  most  luminous  part  of  the  sun’s 
envelope  and  the  gray  atmosphere  of  the  sun,  would  cast 
upon  the  latter  shadows  so  dark  and  so  flitting  as  to  resemble 
the  shadows  of  clouds  on  our  own  planet,  and  the  dispersion 
of  the  clouds  so  making  the  shadows  would  account  for  the 
rapid  disappearance  of  the  sun  spots.  The  forms  of  the  sun 
spots  would  vary  with  the  sinuosities  and  unevenness  of  the 
surface  of  the  gray  envelope  of  the  sun  upon  which  these 
shadows  fell,  and  the  continual  interference  of  intense  liglit 
derived  from  other  luminaries  of  the  stellar  world,  with  the 
fainter  light  received  from  our  planetary  system,  would  greatly 
increase  the  darkness  of  the  shadows  so  produced. 

Let  us  now  consider  the  case  of  a total  eclipse  of  the  sun 
by  the  moon.  In  the  reports  of  observers,  the  following 


appearances  have  been  described:  Solar  prominences  during- 
eclipses,  red  protuberances,  red  clouds,  red  flames,  &c. 

One  observer  says:  “They  form  around  the  solar  globe  a 
denticulated  and  continuous  series  of  projections  of  very 
curious  appearance.”  Another  observer  says:  “The. promi- 
nences were  seen  very  distinctly,  their  colour  was  that  of  red 
coral,  slightly  tinted  with  wolet.  They  all  appeared  to  be 
adlierent  by  their  bases,  and  none  of  them  floated  detaehed  at 
a certain  distance  from  the  moon  as  was  observed  in  the  years 
1851  and  1861. 

“ The  following  facts  may  be  considered  tolerably  certain  ; 

“ 1.  The  prommences  (or  protuberances)  belong  decidedly  to 
the  sun. 

“ 2.  The  prominences  are  of  a gaseous  nature,  that  is,  they 
are  coVnposed  of  an  incandescent  gas,  principally  hydrogen  gas, 
but  thej'  contain  doubtless  other  substances,  perhaps  sub- 
stances tha.t  arc  unKnown  on  the  surface  of  our  earth,  at  least 
such  would  xrppear  to  be  proved  by  the  existence  of  a brilliant 
. line  in  the  spectrum,  near  to  the  yellow  line  of  sodium,  but 
not  coinciding  with  the  latter,  and,  moreover,  most  curious  to 
relate,  it  does  not  coincide  with  any  dark  ray  of  the  solar 
spectrum. 

“3.  The  matter  which  forms  the  prominences  is  of  very 
' great , extent,  whether  it  spreads  over  the  entire  photosphere 
or  not ; it  forms  a continuous  layer,  the  thickness  of  which  is 
estimated  by  Mr.  Loeyer,  at  some  5,000  miles  on  an  average, 
and  the  prominences  appear  to  be  only  portions  of  this  layer 
projected  to  a certain  distance  from  it,  sometimes  detached 
from  it  a.nd  floating  above  it.  One  of  the  great  prominences, 
represented  upwards  of  100,000  miles  in  vei'tical  height  above 
the  photosphere. 

“ 4.  These  stupendous  accumulations  of  incandescent  gas 
undergo,  in  very  short  intervals  of  time,  very  great  changes 
in  their  form  and  size,  which  indicate  that  the  layers,  of 
gaseous  matter  of  which  they  form  part  are  iu  a state  of  con-, 
stxuit  agitation,  the  cause  of  which  is  unknown,  perhaps  it  is 
the  same  that  gives  rise  to  the  spots  and  faculse. 

“It  is  extremely  probable  that  the  the  entire  globe  of  the 
sun  has  a very  high  temperature  throughout  its  mass — a tem- 
perature which  surpasses  the  melting  (or  boiling)  points  of 


80 


most  of  the  elementary  substances  of  which  spectral  analysis 
has  revealed  the  existence  in  its  atmosphere.  At  the  same 
time,  it  is  evident  that  the  various  concentric  layers  of  which 
the  solar  globe  may  be  supposed  to  be  formed,  exert  one  upon 
tlie  other  considerable  pressure,  since  we  find  that  at  the  sur- 
face itself,  the  intensity  of  gravitation  is  twenty-eight  times  as 
great,  as  it  is  upon  the  earth’s  surface.  This  pressure  may 
hinder  fusion  to  a certain  extent,  but  not  incandescence,  fiut 
we  believe  that  the  hypothesis  of  a liquid  incandescence  or 
even  a gaseous  nucleus  is  more  probable.” 

All  such  hypotheses  are  put  at  rest  by  the  recognition  of  the 
sun. as  a great  magnet,  since  magnetism  is  destroyed  by  heat. 

“ The  prominences  on  the  right,  (western 'edge)  appear  like 
a mass  of  snow-capped  mountains,  the  bases  of  which  rest  on 
the  limb  of  the  moon,  and  are  lighted  up  by  the,  rays  of  a 
setting  sun.”  (From  M.  Jansen’s  observations  on  the  eclipse 
of  the  sun  from  Aden  to  Malacca,  Augu'St  18, 1868.) 

“ In  1858,  M.  Liais  found  that  the  light'  of  the  sun’s  corona, 
is  really  polarized,  and  at  once  concluded  that  the  sun  has  an 
atmosphere  extending  far  beyond  the  nhotosphere. 

“During  the  short,  phase  of  total  darkness,  a luminous 
corona  makes  its  .appearance,  being  generally  of  a silver 
whiteness,  but  is  sometimes  coloured  and  surrounds  com- 
pletely the  dark  limb.  Its  apparent  breadth  is  from  one-fifth' 
to  one-twelfth  of  the  diameter  of  the  moon,  and  from  it,  light 
decreases  gradually.” 

■We  have  here  in  the  aspect  of  the  clouds  in  sunshine,  from 
the  summit  of  Mount  Washington  as  they  gather  from  the  sea 
or  from  the  land,  advancing,  stationary,  or  retiring,  the  most 
vivid  descriptions  of  the  varying  brilliant  tints  and  gorgeous 
groupings  of  colours,  as  the  changing  angles  of  incidence  and 
reflection  met  their  sight,  that  it  is  possible  to  conceive.  We, 
who  are  familiar  with  the  magnificent  autumnal  sunsets  of 
many  parts  of  our  country,  may  begin  to  imagine  the 
exquisite  beauty  of  the  scenes  which  these  gentlemen  have 
witnessed.  But  the  particular  object  we  have  in  view  in 
calling  your  attention  to  it,  is  to  trace  the  analogy  of  these 
displays  of  colour,  light  and  shade,  with  those  described  by 
astronomers  in  investigating  the  physical  condition  of  the  sun. 
We  have  the  same  tints,  brilliant  colours,  neutral  colours, 
shades  and  shadows,  in  our  planet  as  are  described  to  be  seen 
in  the  sun— -similar  disturbances  in  the  vapour  of  both  orbs. 


81 


I.s  it  too  mucli  to  imagiue,  therefore,  that  if  an  obf5errer  could 
, he  placed  within  telescopic  range  hejond  our  atmosphere, 
he  might  see  in  our  atmosphere  an  exact  imitation,  upon  a 
reduced  scale  however,  of  whatever  has  been  exhibited  by  the 
sun,  as  the  disc  of  our  planet  would  then  display  a reflection 
of  the  illumination  of  the  whole  stellar  world?  And  wdiat 
more  does  the  sun  do  ? He  receives  the  light  of  the  whole 
stellar  and  planetary  world,  and  reflects  it  again  through 
space,  thus  presenting  to  one  orb,  or  set  of  orbs,  the  light  he 
has  received  from  others,  until  throughout  the  great  expanse, 
light  is  diffused  everywhere  to  shine  in  the  firmament  of  heaven, 
atid  give  light  upon  the  earth. 

We  have  had  exhil)ited  in  this  city,  (Philadelphia,)  a few 
W'oeks  since,  by  a distinguished  artist,  an  oil  painting  of 
‘‘Pike’s  Peak,”  one  of  the  grandest  mountains  of  the  Eocky 
Mountain  range.  Its  height  is  14,216  feet  above  the  sea  level, 
and  on  its  very  summit  is  a signal  station  and  observatory  of 
the  United  States,  erected  in  the  year  1873.  Its  summit  is 
covered  with  snow  to  a descent  of  perhaps  a thousand  feet. 
The  painting,  which  represents  a sunset  scene,  portrays  the 
.snow-covered  summit,  illuminated  all  over  by  a brilliant  red 
tint,  resembling  red  coral,  and  creating  at  first  sight  the  im- 
pression of  a mountain  on  fire.  The  resemblance  to  the  red 
protuberances  around  the  sun,  during  eclipses,  as  depicted  in 
photographs  taken  by  the  observers,  is  • most  striking.  This 
brilliant  red  coral  colour  jDervades  the  whole  surface  of  the 
summit  of  the  mountain  that  is  covered  with  snow,  and  which 
is  seen  through  the  red  colour.  Here  we  have, an  exact  resem- 
blance of  one  of  the  appearances  of  the  sun,  as  displayed 
during  an  ■ eclipse,  and  yet  there  is  no  incandescent  gas 
covering  “Pike’s  Peak”  to  produce  this  colour.  On  the  com 
trary,  the  atmosphere  around  and  above  the  mountain  is  - 
wintry,  with  a temperature  below  freezing  point  “ JEx  pede 
IlereidemI”  May  we  not  infer  from'  this  illustration  that  thei'c 
is  no  incandescent  gas  about  the  sun,  and  that  the  varied  tints 
and  colours,  however  brilliant,  and  however  resembling  what 
w'e  suppose  to  be  incandescent  metallic  vapours,  are  reallyonly 
manifestations  of  light  in  its  protean  displays,  as  fitful  and 
evanescent  as  we  see  it  in  our  autumnal  sunsets. 

How  let  us  for  a moment  imagiue  that  by  the  interposition 
of  the  moon  between  the  sun  and  the  earth,  each  suffers  an 
eclipse  from  the  other.  Let  us  suppose  that  the  snow-clad 
mountains  of  our  planet  are  bathed  in  sunlight,  and  that  the 


82 


T>rilliant  colours  derived  from  that  source,  changing  with  the 
angles  of  incidence  and  reflection,  with  which  they  encompass 
these  snow-clad  peaks,  become  displayed  beyond  the  peripheiy 
of  the  moon,  which  has  concealed  a large  part  of  the  body  of 
the  earth.  N"ow,  if  an  observer  could  be  placed  belwcen  the 
moon  and  the  sun,  at  the  period  of  such  an  eclipse  of  the  earth, 
would  he  not  witness  displays  of  light  and  colour,  greatly  re- 
sembling, if  not  identical,  with  those  which  woulcLbe  seen  by 
another  observer  placed  between  the  moon  and  the  earth,  as 
he  regarded  the  appearances  about  the  sun  ? What  then 
would  l»ecome  of  the  terrific  heat  of  the  sun  and  its  incandes- 
cent gases  ? 

“ In  the  hypothesis  of  undulations,  instead  of  supi)osing  the 
transport  of  a material  agent  to  great  distances,  it  is  held  that 
the  vibrations  of  luminous  bodies  are  communicated  to  the 
atoms  of  an  all-pervading  ethereal  fluid.  These  vibrations, 
propagated  througli  this  fluid,  reach  the  organ  of  vision,  which 
in  time  transmits  them  to  the  optic  nerve.  In  this  bpothe- 
sis,  the  nature  and  transmission  of  light  would  be  analagous 
to  the  nature  and  transmission  of  sound,  light  being  produced 
by  atomic,  and  sound  by  molecular  vibrations.”  This  idea 
confines  the  action  of  light  to  animal  vision. 

In  these  cases  there  is  no  analogy,  for  sound  has  a very 
limited  range  of  action,  with  comparatively  small  velocity,  and 
is  only  of  value  to  living  beings.  While  light  has  scarcely  a 
limit  as  to  distance  in  penetration,  and  a velocity  inconceivably 
■great,  and  is  indispensable  to  planetary  existence. 

Two  persons  hold  a table-cloth,  twmnty-flve  feet  long,  by  its 
two  ends,  loosely  in  their  hands — the  actual  distance  between 
these  persons  in  a -straight  line  is  twenty  feet — one  of  these 
'persons  raises  his  arms,  and,  by  a strong  impulse,  shakes  the 
cloth,  while  the  other  end  is  held  by  the  other  person  firmly, 
a wave  of  the  cloth  is  formed,  and  runs  through  its  entire 
length,  at  the  extremity  of  which  it  is  lost.  This  is  called 
undulation,  or  wave-making.  The  cloth  rises  and  falls  in  the 
wave,  which  runs  through  twenty-five  feet,  its  whole  length. 
The  distance  traveled  by  the  wave  is  twentj^-five  feet,  being 
five  feet  more  than  the  distance  between  the  two  persons 
holding  the  table-cloth.  Should  the  table-cloth  be  stretched 
to  its  full  length,  no  wave  could  be  produced. 

- llow,  let  us  apply  this  example  to  the  sun  and  the  earth. 
The  luminous  ether,  as  the  intervening  space  between  these 


83 


two  orbs  is  called,  is  uiuety-tw'o  millions  of  miles  in  length 
and,  to  admit  of  its  undulation,, must  be  very  loose  in  its  con- 
sistency. We  may  safely  infer  that  such  undulations  as  would 
lie  required  for  the  transmission  of  light  from  the  sun  to  the 
earth,  would  increase  the  actual  distance  traveled  by  the  light 
in  its  undulations  fully  ten  millions  of  miles,  making  the 
traveled  space  between  the  sun  and  earth  to  be  one  hundred 
and  two  millions  of  miles  instead  of  ninety-two  millions  of 
miles,  the  measured  distance.  ITow,  the  greatest  velocity 
known  is  that  of  lightf  which  is  186,000  miles  per  second. 
We  do  no  injustice  to  Divine  Wisdom  when  we  suppose  that 
this  extreme  velocity  has  been  imparted  to  light,  in  order  that 
it  should  pass  through  space  without  interruption,  and  that  it 
should  reaclr  rts  destination  in  the  shortest  possible  space  of 
time — in  other  words,  that  it  should  go  directly  to  its  object  in, 
right  lines,  without  any  deviation,  up  or  down,  or  laterally,, 
which  would  only  retard  its  progress.  Hence  we  reject  entirely 
the  undulatory  theory  of  liglit,  as  enunciated  at  the  present 
time.  If  fhe  laws  of  light  arc  not  comprehended  by- scientists,, 
it  furnishes  no  excuse  for  resort  to  absurdities  in  the  effort  to- 
explain  them.  While  light,  in  traversing  inter-stellar  and 
inter-plauetary  spaces,  is  thought  to  be  confined  to  rectilinear 
directions,  there  is  nothing  incompatible  with  this  idea  when 
it  is  brought  Avithin  the  influences  of  our  atmosphere,  by  which 
its  refrangibility,  its  reflection,  its  polarization,  and  its  power 
to  develop  electricity,  magnetism,  aud  heat  are  manifested, 
and  its  more  speedy  diffusion  through  our  atmosphere,  by 
these  disturbing  influences,  may  furnish  a reason  for  its  attri- 
butes here,  which  Avould  have  no  application  in  its  passage 
through  inter-stellar  or  inter-planetary  spaces. 

“ Light  diminishes  in  force  or  intensity  in  proportion  as  it 
recedes  from  its  source.  This  diminution  is  in  direct  ratio  to 
the  square  of  the  distance.  Thus,  the  quantities  of  light  at  dis- 
tances 2,  3,  4,  etC'.,  will  be  4,  9,  16,  etc.,  times  less  than  at  dis- 
tance 1.  Light  requires  eight  minutes  thirteen  seconds  to 
arrive  from  the  sun  to  the  earth.  It  travels  11|-  miles  in  of 
a second,  or  186,000  miles  per  second.  It  travels  alw^ays  in  a 
straight  line. 

“ Light  added  to  light,  by  interference,  produces  darkness. 
The  movement  of  such  rays  neutralize  each  other,  and  the 
light  ceases  to  cast  any  lustre. 

“ Of  the  thousand  rays  of  variegated  shade  and  refrangibility 

* EKcepting  that  of  electricity,  which  is  288,000  miles  per  second. 


84 


Avliieh  compose  colourless  (or  white)  light,  those  only  ueutrali^^e 
each  other  Avhich  possess  co-ordinate  colour  and  refrangihility. 
Thus  a red  ray  cannot  obliterate  a green  ray.  Two  win  to 
lights  cross  each  other  at  a given  point,  and  one  time  the  red 
^ay  alone  will  disappear,  and  the  point  of  intersection  will 
become  green — green  being  Avhitc  minus  red.” 

Let  us  see  what  can  he  made  of  the  fragmentary  knowledge 
of  light  that  we  have  so  far  attained.  Tlie  white  liglit  of  the 
sun  is  composed  of  seven  primary  rays,  all  differing  in  colour 
from  each  other.  The  first  analysis  of  this  white  sunlight  was 
displayed  to  mankind  in  the  rainboAv,  whose  magnificent 
beauty  Avas  admired  Avith  stupid  Avonder,  AA'ithout  the  faintest 
conception  on  the  part  of  the  beholder  of  what  it  meant. 
After  a lapse  of  ages  of  tinle,  Sir  Isaac  ISTcAvton,  Avith  a glass 
prism,  separated  the  rays  of  a sunbeam,  and  developed  the 
primary  colours  Avhich,  in  their  association,  had  formed  the 
AA'hite  light  of  the  sun.  He  reunited  these  primary  rays,  and 
thus,  hy  synthesis  as  well  as  analysis,  he  proved  the  composite 
chaz’acter  of  sunlight. 

Hoav,  astronomers  have  shown  that  the  planets  and  asteroids 
of  our  planetary  system  each  emit  a colour  peculiar  to  itself: 
Mercury,  a pale  rosy  light;  Mars,  a reddish  tint;  Yenus,  asih^ery- 
white  colour,  with  occasional  streaks  of  pale  blue  light  ; J upiter 
gives  out  a pale  yelloAV  light ; Saturn,  a pale  bluish  tizit,  Avhile 
its  rings  are  gorgeous  Avith  a Avhite,  silvery  colour;  the  Moon 
gives  out  a yelloAvish  hue  ; Pallas  shines  Avith  a 3'clloAvish  light  ; 
Juno  is  a reddish  star;  Yesta  has  a ruddy  tinge,  sometimes  of 
a pale  yelloAA'ish  hue ; the  ' Earth  emits  a red  colour. 

Another  remarkable  feature  of  these  star  systems,  and  jzer- 
haps  the  most  brilHajit  and  intrinsicall}^  beautiful  phenomenon 
of  astronomy,  is  the  resplendent  and  gemlike  variety  of  colours 
by  Avhich  the  binaiy,  ternary  and  other  multiple  systems  are 
(fliaracterizcd.  Here  all  the  colours  and  intermediate  tints  of 
the  Spectrum  are  to  be  met  with,  manifested  with  the  richest 
intensity  and  the  most  A’ivid  and  distinctiA-e  strength  and 
fulness  ef  hue.  Thus  in  y,  Andromeda,  we  have  a ternary 
combination,  the  brighter  star  being  a rich  and  full  orange, 
and  the  two  fainter  stars  green.  In  a,  Cassippeite,  we  have  a 
liright  blue  and  a sea  green  star,  /5,  Cygni,  is  a pair  of  stars, 
yelloAV  and  sapphire,  a,  Ceti,  is  a very  fine  orange  star  with  a 
blue  companion.  * * * 

“In  a celebrated  cluster  of  stars,  near  z of  the  Southern  Cross, 
there  are  about  one  hundred  small  stars  of  different  colours, 
from  the  A*arious  reds  to  all  the  tints  of  green,  blue  and  bluish- 


85 


green,  so  crowded  together,  that  they  appear  in  the  larger 
telescopes  like  a piece  of  magnilieent  celestial  jewelry,  stmled 
and  flashing  in  the  most  superb  splendour  ^nth  the  richest  and 
most  brilliant  gem-light.”  * These  colours  are  primary. 

hat  becomes  of  all  these  primary  rays  of  light  unless  thej’" 
are  used  to  compose  the  white  light  of  our  sun,  and  of  all  the 
fixed  stars  or  suns  that  illuminate  the  firmament  ? TMiatever 
sunlight,  therefore,  has  fallen  upon  these  planets  has  been  de- 
composed; six  out  of  the  seven  primary  rays  thereof  have  been 
absoibed  for  the  use  of  the  planet,  and  the  remaining  primary 
has  been  emitted  by  the  planet,  and  sent  to  the  sun  to 
associate  in  his  photosphere  with  the  different  primary  ravs 
sent  to  him  from  other  planets,  to  form  anew  the  Avhite  sun- 
light, which  by  him  is  to  be  diffused  throughout  the  planetary 
and  stellar  Avorld. 

-r- 

^ iN  oy  we  must  not  suppose  that  the  orbs  composing  our 
diminnti\'c  solar  system  have  furnished,  or  can  furnish,  to  the 
sun  a surticient  c|uantity  of  their  respective  primary  rays  of 
light  to  supply  that  luminary  with  the  amount  of  elementary 
light  which  it  is  his  function  to  combine  and  to  furnish  to  the 
universe. _ We  must  remember,  that,  from  the  great  deptlis  of 
the  infinite  expanse,  elementary  light  comes  up  from  every 
star,  nebula,  or  meteor,  seeking  its  complementary  element  in 
the  photosphere  of  the  sun,  there  to  be  associated  as  white 
light,  and  thence  to  be  reflected  from  the  gray  covering  of  the 
sun,  as  a mirror,  to  all  the  orbs  of  creation.  This  circulation 
of  light,  this  absorption  by  the  stars  and  planets  of  such  of  the 
primary  rays  of  liglit  as  they  need  for  their  own  support,  and 
the  emission,_  severally,  of  their  own  peculiar  rays,  to  be  reas- 
sembled again  in  the  various  photospheres  of  the  infinite 
number  of  suns  that  stud  the  firmament,  and  to  be  again  dif- 
fused, according  to  the  plan  of  creation,  in  endless  suc^cessibn, 
present  an  image  of  the  wisdom,  the  beneficence  and  power  of 
the  Creator,_that  fills  the  mind  with  awe,  and  teaches  man  the 
utter  insignificance  of  his  being. 

Our  sun  is  simply  a huge  reflector  of  light.  The  gray 
covering  of  his  nucleus  or  body  is  represented  in  our  miirors 
by  the  metallic  covering  which  we  place  on  the  backs  of  our 
glasses.  These  transparent  glasses  are  tjiflfied  by  the  trans- 
lucent photosphere  of  the  sun,  and  the  associated  primary 
rays  of  light  from  every  luminous  object  in  the  universe, 
mingling  together,  and  reflected  from  this  gray  covering  of 
the  sun,  furnish  the  white  sunlight  that  illuminates  the  world. 

*J.  A.  S,  T!ollwyi’-i  A«*nn'>ray. 


86 


TTeat  destroys  gravitation.  Even  our  astronomers, -in  assert- 
ing that  the  lunnnous  matter  in  tlie  photosphere  of  the  sun  is 
sliWn  by  the  spectroscope  to  be  composed  largely  of  incan- 
descent metallic  gases,  the  bases -of  winch  are  among  the 
heaviest  matter  in  the  crust  of  our  earth,  commit  the  incon- 
sistency of  supposing  that  these  heavy  incandescent  metallic 
vapours  or  gases  are  supported  by  a photosphere  of  much 
greater  specific  gravity,  as  well  as  density,  than  these  heavy 
gases  themselves;  otherwise  these  metallic  gases  coidd  not 
float  in  the  photosphere.  Some  of  these  astronomers  go  so  far 
as  to  suppose  that  the  body  or  nucleus  of  the  sun  itself  is 
gaseous,  and  that  the  density  of  the  sun  is  much  less  than 
the  densities  of  the  incandescent  metallic  vapours  which  they 
suppose  to  float  in  its  photosphere.  K^ow,  if  these  incan  descent 
metallic  gases  are  heavier- than  the  material  composing  the 
sun., itself,  it  is  clear  that  the  gravitation,  according  to  l!^ewton, 
of  these  heavy  metallic  incandescent  vapours  is  not  towards  the 
centre  of  the  sun;  and  if  not  to  him,  where  do  they  gravitate  ? 
We  know  Avhat  the  spccifie  gravities  or  densities  of  many  of 
the  metals  on  the  surface  of  the  earth  are,  whose  incandescent 
vapours,  as  revealed  by  the  spectoscope,  are  supposed  to  exist 
in  the  photosphere  of  the  .sun,  and  astronomers  have  calculated 
that  the  attraction  of  gravitation  to  the  sun  in  its  jfiiotosidiere 
Avould  be  twenty-eight  times  as  great  as  the  gravitation  in  the 
earth’s  atmosphere  to  the  earth  of  bodies  of  similar  weight. 

If,  therefore,  we  suppose  that  these  metallic  incandescent 
vapours  in  the  sun’s  photos^phere  to  be  twenty-eight  times^ 
heavier  than  they  aa-ouM  be  in  the.  earth’s  atmosphere  ; and  it 
they  nCA'cr  fall  to  the  body  of  the  sun,  it  must  folloAV  that 
AA’hat  is  called  graA’itation  in  the  |)hoto.s2:»herc  of  the' sun  ean- 
not  exist,  and  the  Avhole  thcoi’y  of  ISTcAAfion,  of  centripetal  and 
centrifugal  forces,  has  no  substantial  existence.  Wo  knoAV 
that  in  our  OAAm  planet  heat  destroys  gravitation,  as  the  vol- 
canic action  in  the  interior  of  the  earth,  ujihoaVing  island.s, 
mountain  ranges,  and  even  continents,  abundantly  proA^es 

The  mean  density  of  the  earth  is  about  five  times  greater 
than  that  of  water — actually  5.44  times.  Water,  therefore, 
rests  on  the  surface  of  the  eartli — penetrates  its  crust  till  it 
encounters  the  heat  radiated  from  the  interior  of  the  eartlp 
where  its  further  descent  below  the  surface  Is  arrested,  then  it 
is  converted  into  steam  by  the  heat  it  has  absorbed,  and  it  is 
driven  upwards  into  the  atmosphere,  heaving  u|)  tlie  most 
solid  and  heavy  materials  of  the  crust  of  the  eaz’th,  that  lie 


i 


87 


nljove  the  direction  it  may  take.  This  expansion  of  water 
into  steam  by  heat  in  the  crust  of  the  earth,  produced  by  the 
repellent  affinity  of  the  homogeneous  electricity  associated 
with  it,  is  one  of  the  forces  of  volcanic  action,  which  are  con- 
tinually changing  the  forms  of  the  outer  surface  of  the  earth’s 
crust.  The  density  or  specific  gravity  of  the  sun  is  0.25136 
(or  nearly  one-fourth  of  that  of  the  earth).  In  other  words, 
taken  in  equal  volumes,  the  weight*  of  the  matter  which  com- 
poses the  sun  is  scarcely  more  than  one-fourth  of  the  weight 
which  composes  our  globe.  Compared  to  water,  the  density 
of  the  sun  is  1.367 ; that  of  water  being  1. 

How,  if  what  our  astronomers  tell  us  of  the  inconceivably 
high  temperature  of  the  sun  be  true,  there  can  be  no  gravita- 
tion towards  iffi  centre  from  its  photosphere,  its  chromosphere, 
or  any  of  its  possible^nvelopes,  the  heat  expanding,  rarefying 
and  driving  oft'  all  such  material  substances.  Heat  disinteg-’ 
rates  solids,  separates  their  molecules,  destroys  their  densities, 
and  consequently  . is  opposed  to  gravitation,  which  is  the 
attraction,  of  densities.  Alas  ! for  poor  Sir  Isaac  Hewton  and 
his  grand  theory  of  centripetal  and  centrifugal  forces!  A ray 
of  light  passing  through  a narrow  chink,  and  through  a glass 
prism,  has  done  the  business.  .The  incandescent  nietallic 
gases  and  the  transcendent  intense  heat  of  the  sun  which  has 
vapourized  these  metals  (the  supposed  discovery  by  the  narrow 
chink  and  the  prism),  have  demolished  Hewton  and  his  erratic 
fancies.  Sic  transit  gloria  mundi  I 

According  to  Professor  Tyndall,  “gravitation  consists  of  an 
attraction  of  every  particle  of  matter  for  every  other  particle 
planets  and  moons  are  supp)Osed  to  be  held  in  their  orbits  by 
this  attraction.” 

“ The  earth  is  supposed  to  attract  to  its  centre  all  the  bodies 
upon  its  surface  by  Avhat  Howton  termed  centripetal  force,  and 
when  one  of  them  falls,  it  is  always  towards  the  earth’s  centre. 
Tins  force  is  said  to  be  resident  in  all  the  bodies  of  nature. 
It  exerts  its  influence  upon  the  largest  masses  as  well  as  upon 
the  most  minute  particles  of  matter.  This  it  is  which  gives 
harmony  to  the  univei'se,  and  explains  the  formation  of  bodies 
of  all  kinds.” 

Hewton  held  that  “ Bodies  exercise  attraction  in  direct  ratio 
to  their  mass,  and  that  this  law  was  of  universal  application.” 

Let  us  examine  this. 


88 


Ttae  circulation  of  tlie  blood  in  animals  is  not  affected  by 
gravitation,  nor  are  any  of  the  secretions  of  tbe  animal  body. 
Tlie  development  in  growth  of  animals  is  upwards,  opposed  to 
gravitation,  and  totally  unaffeeted  by  gravitation.  Tbe  move- 
ments of  animals  in  the  performance,  of  their  varied  functions 
have  no  reference  to  gramtation.  So  also  in  the  vegetable 
world ; the  sap  of  plants  rises  from  the  roots,  is  distributed 
through  the  branches,  ancT  enlarges  their  size  irrespective  of 
gravitation  ; the  trunk  of  the  tree  aseends  into  the  atmosphere 
and  extends  its  huge  limbs  laterally,  as  if  gravitation  had  no 
existence.  The  smoke  from  combustion,  the  exhalations  from 
the  earth,  and  the  evaporation  of  water,  all  of  them  material 
substances,  are  in  opposition  to  gravitation. 

Light,  electricity,  magnetism  and  heat,  the  vital  forces  of 
the  universe,  all  treat  gravitation  with  groat  contempt.  The 
atmosphere  surrounds  and  envelopes,  the  earth.  It  has  wluit 
is  called  gravity  or  weight,  but  it  is  not  subject  to  what  is 
called  the  law  of  gravitation,  since  when  its  lower  strata 
l)ecomo  warmed,  they  ascend  into  the  upper  part  of  the  atmos- 
phere, and  do  not  descend  or  fall  to  the  earth,  as  having  weight 
they  should  do;  thus  a difference  in  the  relative  weights  of  the 
same  substance,  in  one  condition  or  another,  removes  that 
substance  from  the  influence  of  gravitation.  The  vapours  or 
clouds  in  the  atmosphere,  which  are  heavier  than  air,  float  in 
many  directions,  and  do  not  fall  to  the  earth.  A piece  of  iron 
will  float  upon  a fused  mass  of  iron,  instead  of  passing  through 
it  to  the  bottom.  The  inertia  of  matter  is  opposed  to  gravita- 
tion. Form,  which  is  . a force,  ;and  is  the  resultai\t  of  the  forces 
that  have  produced  it,  is  antagonistic  to  gravitation,  which  Ave 
illustrate  Avith  this  example : suppose  we  have  a cube  of  soft 
iron,  Aveighing  five  pounds;  let  it  be  held  by  the  hand  OA'cr  a 
pool  of  AA'ater;  release  it  from  the  hand,  the  iron  falls  directly 
to  the  bottom  of  the  pool ; our  philosophers  Avould  say  it  fell 
by  gravitation. 

Now,  take  that  cube  of  iron,  roll  it  out  into  a sheet  of  iron 
one-sixteenth  of  an  inch  in  thickness,  and  again  place  it  over 
the  water  horizontally;  release  your  hold  upon  it;  it  sinks 
immediately  to  the  bottom  of  the  pool,  Philosopliy  says,  by- 
graAutation.  Recover  it,  and  holding  its  edge  vertically  over 
the  water,  again  AAuthdraw^  your  hand;  it  descends  at  once  to 
the  bottom.  Still  by  gravitation.  Now,  again  take  it_  from 
the  pool,  bend  its  edges  up  some  six  inches  around  it,  in  the 
form  of  a dish;  then  place  its  bottom  on  the  surface  of  the- 


89 


\rater,  release  your  hold,  and  lo  ! it  does  not  sink  to  the  bottom 
of  the  pool,  but  it  floats  upon  the  surface  of  it ! It  is  no  longer 
drawn  to  the  bottom  of  the  pool  by  gravitation,  although  what 
Ave  call  its  weight  is  unchanged.  It  still  weighs  five  pounds. 
Why  does  it  not  sink  as  before  ? It  is  arrested  by  its  form, 
which  is  antagonistic  to  what  is  called  gravitation.  G-ravita- 
tion,  therefore,  is  not  universal.  It  does  not  ahvays  attract 
matter  to  matter,  in  proportion  to  its  mass.  What  then  is 
the  repellent  force  which  pi’CA^ents  this  iron  dish  from  sinking  ? 
It  is  magnetism.  The  water  is  magnetic,  a condition  produced 
by  the  electricity,  whose  opposite  polarities  in  the  oxygen  and 
hydrogen  meeting  in  conjunction,  converted  those  gases,  by 
. the  combustion  of  the  hydrogen  gas  in  the  oxj-gen  gas,  into  the 
lirpiid  state  of  water,  and  rendering  the  water  at  the  same 
time  magnetic.  The  iron  dish,  in  contact  with  the  water  by 
its  horizontal  bottom,  and  having  vertical  sides,  became  mag- 
netic by  induction  from  the  water — the  water  and  the  iron 
presenting  the  same'  magnetic  poles  to  each  other,  mutually 
repelled  each  other,  and  the  flotation  of  the  iron  dish  was  the 
result.  . 

Flotation,  heretofore  attributed  to  the  lightness  of  the 
floating  body  compared  with  the  Avoiglit  of  the  liquid  in 
which  it  floated,  is  due  to  magnetic  repulsion,  and  not  to 
^gravitation.  Now  let  us  look  at  the  condition  of- this  water 
when  it  has  changed  its  character  by  crystalizing  into  flakes 
of  snow,  of  whatever  diversity  of  form,  or  of  hall,  or  of  sur- 
fxce  or  dense  ice.  Thes'e  forms  of  water  at  temperatures  beloxv 
32°  of  Fahrenheit,  are  all  magnets,  and  their  minutest  atoms 
are  all  magnets,  also;  each  endowed  with  its  two  poles,  one 
at  either  extremity  of  the  atom,  and  each  Avith  opposite,  atti'i- 
butes. 

The  commerce  of  the  world,  thei-efore,.  is  sustained  on  its 
oceans  by  the  repellent  force  of  magnetism;  Avhile  the  mari- 
ner directs  his  course  over  their  trackless  Avastes,  in  darkness 
and  in  storm,  guided  by  that  opposite  quality  of  the  magnet 
which  attracts  it  to  the  poles  of  the  earth. 

Noav,  when  water,  owing  its  form,  Avhether  liquid  or  frozen, 
to  magnetism,  is  exposed  to  heat,  and  converted  into  steam, 
its  magnetic  qualities  are  driven  off  by  the  heat,  and  are  re- 
placed by  electricity,  AAdiich  is  the  force  that  rends  the  strongest 
fabrics  of  human  skill  to  pieces,  and  scatters  death  and  deso- 
lation in  cAmry  direction.  The  electricity  of  steam  is  of  one 


90 


kind,  imd  is  repellent  of  itself;  and  its  effort  to  escape  from 
itself  and  to  unite  tvitli  the  opposite  electricity  of  the  atmos- 
phere is  so  violent  and  so  powerful  that  it  furnishes  to  man 
one  of  tlie  greatest  forces  with  which  he  is  accj[uaiuted. 

The  forked  flashes  of  lightning,  seen  ah.ove  volcanoes  in 
eruption,  are  merely  the  results  of  the  conjunction  of  the 
positive  electricity  of  the  heated  air,  steam  and  lava  thrown 
out  of  the  volcano  by  violent  interior  forces,  with  the  negative 
electricity  of  the  atmosphere  above  and  around  the  volcano. 

Rotary  motion. of  an  object  is  antagonistic  to  magnetism, 
hy  the  production  of  friction  with  the  atmosphci-e  by  the  re- 
volving object.  This  friction  evolves  electricity,  which,  uniting 
with  tlie  opposite  electricity  of  the  revolving  object,  produces 
heat  that  expands  and  disintegrates  its  molecules,  separating 
them,  and  removing  the  magnetism. 

As  the  heat  of  the  sun  (if  it  has  any)  cannot  pass  down- 
wards through  ninety-two  millions  of  miles  of  ether  with  a 
temperature  of  —-142°  of  centigrade  thermometer,  so  the  heat 
radiated  from  the  interior  of  the  earth,  or  proiluced  oh  its 
surface,  or,  in  its  lower  strata  of  atmosphere,  cannot  penetrate 
upwards  through  the  canopy  of  cold  which  surrounds  the  earth 
at  various  altitudes  froih  the  snow  line  of  15,000  feet  above  the 
ecpiator,  6000  feet  at  45°  of  north  or  south  latitude,  and  at  the 
level  of  the  earth  at  60°  of  north  latitude. 

Let  us  admire  the  ineffable  Avisdom  of  the  Creator  who,  by 
a barrier  of  ice  in  the  Arctic  aijid  Antarctic  regions,  confiiics 
the  internal  heat  between  them  and  the  erpiator,  and  tije 
superficial  heat  of  the  earth  below  the  region  of  perpetual 
snow  in  the  atmosphere,  for  the  uses  intended  by  Him-  of  the- 
planet  and  its  productions 

Rewton’s  theory  of  centripetal  and  centrifugal  attractions 
and  repulsions  is  fallacious.  There  can.  be  no  rotation  on  the 
centre  of  a sphere  or  spheroid,  though  there  may  be  at  the  ex- 
tremities of  any  of  its  diameters  or  axes.  ^Yhat  is  called  cen- 
trifugal force  is  merely  the  repulsion  from  the  axis  of  rotation 
and  not  from  the  centre.  So  centripetal  force  is  merely  axial 
attraction.  Any  force  is  the  resultant  of  the  forces  which 
produce  it.  If  there  was,  therefore,  such  a force  as  centripetal 
in  a sphere  or  spheroid,  the  opposing  forces  acting  from  the 
ends  of  the  diameters  would  neutralize  each  other,  and  an  im- 
mense heat  would  result  at  the  centre,  which  heat  would 


91 


destroy  the  very  forces  which  had  produced  it,  and  would 
prevent  their  continuance.  ^ 

"^Hien  we  consider  the  repellent  forces  of  the  interior  of  the 
earth,  such  as  heat  and  electricity,  upheaving  by  volcanic 
action  immense  masses  of  islands  and  continents,  changing  in 
many  places  the  configuration  of  the  land  and  the  sea,  we 
cannot  for  a moment  accept  the  theory  of  centripetal  attraction 
or  gravitation. 

The  mean  density  of  the  earth  is  said  to  be  about  five  times 
greater  than  that  of  water.  If  this  be  so,  why  does  not  this 
great  density  or  mass  of  matter  bring  down  the  clouds  by 
centripetal  attraction  or  gravitation  instantly  to  the  earth? 
Why  docs  the  atmosphere,  still  less  dense  than  the  clouds,  re- 
main above  the  earth,  when  according  to  the  laws  of  grarita- 
tion  it  should  be  precipitated  upon  it  ? and  why  should  the 
upper  strata  of  the  atmosphere  be  more  attenuated  and  thin 
than  the  lower  strata,  which  besides  their  own  weight  have  the 
additional  weight  of  the  upper  strata  upon  them  ? 

There  are  no  centripetal  or  centrifugal  forces,  as  hTewton 
supposed.  In  the  rapid  rotation  of  a sphere  or  cylinder  on  its 
axis,  the  outer  surface,  by  its  friction  with  the  atmosphere, 
evolves  electricity,  w'hich,  in  conjunction  with  the  electricity 
of  the  atmosphere,  produces  heat,  which  insinuating  itself 
among  the  molecules  of  the  rotating  body,  expands'them  and, 
if  the  velocity  of  the  rotation  is  sufiicient,  this  heat  loosens 
their  mutual  coliesion,  and  electricity  being  at  the  same  time 
imparted  to  these  molecules  associated  witli  the  heat,  they  are 
attracted  thereby  to  the  opposite  electricity  of  the  atmosphere, 
and  the  rotating  body  is  separated  into  fragments  with  great 
violence,  as  the  molecules  of  the  mass,  haring  the  same 
electricity,  repel  each  other  w^hile  they  are  attracted  to  the 
opposite  electricity  of  the  outer  atmosphere. 

This  is  the  explanation  of  the  bursting  of  millstones,  grind- 
stones and  other  revolving  bodies  at  great  speed,  as  well  as  of 
meteors,  shooting  stars  and  comets,  heretofore  attributed  to 
centrifugal  force,  blow,  w'hat  is  there  to  attract  at  the  centre 
of  anything  or  to  repel  therefrom.  The  centre  is  an  imaginary 
point,  having  neither  length,  breadth  nor  thickness,  absolutely 
without  dimensions,  and  consequently  writhout  matter — how 
therefore  can  it  be  invested  with  force  of  any  kind  ? 

There  can  be  no  rotation  on  the  centre  of  any  sphere, 


oylinilcr,  or  cone,  or  other  solid  or  hollow  body,  as  the  forces 
] ■.•f|aisite  to  produce  the  motion,  would  be  antagonistic,  and 
would  destroy  it,  as  the  attempt  might  be  made — conceive  for 
a moment,  that  while  the  earth  is  revolving  on  its  axis  from 
west  to  east,  you  should  apply  an  equal  force  to  make  it 
revolve  also  from  north  to  south,  the  rotation  would  then  be 
from  northwest  to  southeast — now  apply  equal  intermediate 
fu'ces  between  northwest  and  west,  and  northwest  and  north, 
and  so  on  till  you  have  equal  forces  for  every  degree  of  the 
hemisphere,  and  equal  opposite  forces  from  the  other  hemi- 
phere.  This  would  be  equivalent  to  centripetal  force  or 
attraction,  and  as  these  opposing  forces  would  be  equal,  rota- 
tion would  cease,  the  body  would  remain  at  rest,  and 
centripetal  force  or  attraction  would  not  exist,  consequently 
there  is  neither  centripetal  nor  centrifugal  force,  and  we  must 
look  therefore  to  other  forces  to  explain  the  motions  of  the 
planetary  and  stellar  Avorlds. 

It  is  to  Oersted,  the  celebrated  chemist  and  physicist  of 
Denmark,  that  we  owe  the  discovery  that  currents  of  electricity 
passing  over  a conjunctive  wire,  from  one  pole  of  the  Voltaic 
pile  to  the  opposite  pole,  produce  magnetism.  The  meeting’ 
of  these  opposite  electricities,  he  has  termed  an  electrical  con- 
jllclj’^'  I sliould  prefer  ,to  call  it  an  electrical  embrace,  as  it 
more  resembles  the  ardour  of  lovers,  in  its  attraction,  than  an 
attack  by. force  or.  violence.  From  his  experiments  he  con- 
cluded that  the  electric  conflict  is  not  inclosed  in  the  conducting 
wire,  but  that  it  has  around  it  quite  an  extensive  sphere  of 
activity,  and  that  it  acts  l>y  a vortical  or  whirling  movement. 

A few  weeks  after  the  announcement  of  Oersted’s  discovery. 
Ampere,  by  his  experiments,  discovered  that  two  parallel  con- 
j unctive  Avires,  from  opposite  poles  of  a Amltaic  pile,  attract  each 
other,  Avhen  electricity  traverses  them  in  the  same  direction : 
and  that  they  repel  each  other  if  the  electric  currents  move  in 
opposite  directions.  The  sequel  of  Ampere’s  labours  shoAved 
that  the  reciprocal  action  of  the  elements  of  tAA'o  currents  is 
exerted  in  conformity  Avith  the  line  AAdiich  unites  their  centres ; 
that  it  depends  on  the  mutual  inclination  of  these  elements, 
and  that  it  Agarics  in  intensity  in  the  inverse  ratio  of  the  squares 
of  the  distances.  Ampere  finally  succeeded  in  establishing 
that  a conjunctive  Avire  Avound  into  a helix  or  spiral  curved 
Tine,  AAnth  very  close  spires,  is  sensitive  to  the  magnetic  action 
of  the. earth.  For  many  AA'eeks  there  AA'as  to  be  seen  in  his 
cabinet  a conjunctive  Avire  of  platina,  whose  position  A\^as 


■PIMIIl  L.|,  L 'Ill  . I|  I JLIWIIMII  I 


93 


determined  by  the  action  of  the  terrestrial  globe.  Ampere 
ivv  constructing  a galvanic  compass,  had  shown  that  the  forces 
which  act  in  the  magnetic  needle  are  electric  currents,  and  by 
Ills  learned  calculations  on  the  the  reciprocal  action  of  these 
curients,  he  accounted  for  all  the  actions  which  the  conjunctive 
wire  of  the  pile  exerts,  in  the  experiment  of  Oersted,  on  the 
magnetic  needle. 

M.  ^Arago,  the  eminent  French  astronomer,  associated  wit^ 
Ampere  in  some  of  his  experimepts,  says:  coiled  coppei’ 

wire  for  a length  of  two  inches, _ from  right  to  left,  into  a helix ; 
fhen  an  eijual  length  of  wire  in  the  same  manner,  from  left 
to  right  ; and  lastly,  a similar  quantitv  again  from  right  to  left. 
These  three^ helices  were  separated  from  each  other  by  recti- 
linear portions  of  the  same  wire. 

“One  and  the  same  steel  cylinder  of  a suitable  length  and  of 
rather  more  than  .04  of  an  inch  diameter,  and  enclosed  in  a 
glass  tube,  was  inserted  in  the  three  helices  at  once.  The  o-al- 
vanic  current,  in  passing  along  the  coils  of  these  different 
helices,  magnetized  the  corresponding  portions  of  the  steel 
cy  linder,  as  if  they  had  been  detached  and  separate  from  each 
other , foi  I remarhed  that  at  one  ot  the  extremities  there 
was  a north  pole,  at  two  inches  distance  a south  pole,  farther 
on.  a second  south  pole  followed  by  a north  pole ; lastlv,  a 
third  north  pole,  and  two  inches  farther  on,  or  at  the  other 
extremity  of  the  cylinder,  a south  pole.”  Thus,  by  this 
rnethod,  the  number  of  these  intermediate  poles,  which  physi- 
cists ha\  e denominated  consecutive  points,  could  be  multiplied 
at  pleasure.  M.  Arago  also  observed,  that  “if  the  intervals 
comprised  between  the  consecutive  helices  are  small,  the  parts 
.of  the  steel  wire  oi;  cylinder,  corresponding  to  those  interns, 
will  themselves  be  magnetized  as  if  the  movement  of  rotation 
impressed  on  the  magnetic  fluid,  according  to  Ampere’s  idea, 
by  the  influence  of  a helix,  was  continued  beyond  the  extreme 
spires  of  the  coil.” 

As  the  conjunction  of  opposite  electricities,  according  to 
these  authorities,  develops  magnetism;  and  as  tornaefoes, 
huriicanes,  cyclones,  and  other  atmospheric  disturbances  move 
in  spiral  curves  from  their  respective  points  of  departure  till 
their  terminations,  and  as,  according  to  Ampere  and  Arago, 
currents  of  electricity  passed  through  spiral  cjdindrical  coils 
ot  wire  develop  magnetism,  we  see  here  the  sources  of  the 
I supply  of  magnetism  to  our  planet,  its  atmosphere,  and  the 


t 


94 


objecta  upon  or  in  them.  This  magnetism,  so  developed,  is- 
absorbed  by  every  object  in  nature.  Being  an  imponderable, 
its  presence  cannot  always  be  discerned  or  detected;  but  it 
resides  in  a latent  form  everywhere,  till  it  is  evolved  by  the 
opposite  attraction  or  repulsion  of  some  object  approached  to 
it  which  is  also  magnetic. 

In  many  parts  of  the  world  springs  of  water  exist  in  which 
a great  degree  of  magnetic  power  is  manifested.  In  the  state 
of  Michigan  there  are  such  springs,  in  which,  if  penknives,  or 
small  pieces  of  iron,  or  steel,  should  be  immersed  for  a few 
minutes,  they  would  become  highly  magnetic.  These  springs 
ai’e  visited  and  bathed  in  every  year  by  thousands  of  persons 
for  the  highly  curative  influences  over  diseases  that  they  exert. 

There  is  no  magnetism  in  the  earth  pnder  the  erpiatorial 
regions,  owing  to  the  heat  of  the  interior  of  the  central  parts 
of  the  planet,  which  destroys  magnetism.  This  is  proved  by 
the  magnetic  needle  losing  its  dip  under  the  equator.  I think, 
also,  it  Avill  be  shown  that  the  magnetic  needle  has  no  dip  over 
the  G-ulf  stream,  as  under  that  stream  the  interior  heat  of  the 
earth  has  a flue  extending  far  into  the  Arctic  regions,  through 
Avhich  the  Gulf  stream  is  warmed,  and  magnetism  in  the 
eai'th  about  the  flue  destroyed;  the  same- vail  be  found  to  be 
true,  also,  of  the  Japanese  current  that  runs  througli  Behring’s 
strait  to  the  Arctic  regions ; and  of  all  other  warm  currents 
of  water  in  the  oceans.  The  eA’-aporation  of  the  warm  waters 
of  the  Gulf  stream  and  of  the  Japanese  current  develops 
electricity,  which,  being  positive  as  the  waters  thereof  them- 
selves also  are,  they  are  both  attracted  by  the  negative  elec- 
tricity^ of  the  waters  of  the  Arctic  oceafi  ; and  those  currents  flow 
in  that  direction.  It  will  be  found  that  terrestrial  magnetism 
is  irregularly  distributed  in  the  crust  of  the  earth,  and  the 
magnetism  of  the  Northern.  Hemisphere  being  attracted  to 
the  South  Pole,  while  that  in  the  Southern  Hemisphere  being 
attracted  to  the  Horth  Pole,  these  opposite  attractions  have 
increased  the  . equatorial  diameter  of  the  earth  twenty-six 
miles  more  than  the  polar  diameter;  and  the  earth’s  crust 
under  the  equator  hamng  been  thickened  by  the  addition  of 
so  much  material  taken  from  other  parts  of  the  sphere,  it  fol- 
lows as  highly  probable  that  basins  filled  Avith  seas  have 
resulted  at  the  poles  of  the  earth,  and  that  oceanic  currents 
from  the  North  and  South  Poles,  respectively,  are  produced 
by  the  rotation  of  the  earth  on  its  axis,  Growing  off'  the  siir- 
plus  of  accumulated  water  at  the  poles,  and  thus  the  circula- 


95 


tion  of  water  in  oceans  and  seas  is  produced,  in  spiral  curves 
rrom  the  polar  basins. 

I have,  in  the  former  editions  of  this  work,  sim^ested  that 
the  rotation  of  the  earth  on  its  axis  is  the  result  of  electrical 
torces  within  it,  excited  by  the  juxtaposition  of  the  materials 
ot  various  kmds_ forming  its  composition,  and  having  opposite 
electrical  polarities. 

• I have  an  illustration  at  hand  to  prove 
this.  A neighbour  of  mine  recently 
erected  in  the  rear  of  his  house  a one- 
storied dining-room,  in  which  was  a 
chimno}^  which  projected  some  three  feet 
above  the  roof  of  the  building — which 
was  12  feet  above  the  groun  d — on  the  top 
of  the  chimney  he  jdaced  a sheet-iron 
cowl  in  the  form  of  a truncated  hollow 
ellipsoid  with  spiral  flanges  from  top  to 
bottom  of  the  cowl.  ^Vhen  there  is  no 
fire  in  the  chimney  .the  cowl  is  at  rest, 
Avhen  a fire  is  kindled,  as  the  air  in  the 
chimney  becomes  heated  and,  accompanied  by  its  positive 
electricity,-  rises  to  the  top,  it  meets  with  resistance  in  the 
flanges  of  the  cowl,  which  only  begin  to  turn  when  the  gather- 
ing positive  electricity  of  the  warm  air  attracted  by  the  greater 
negative  electricity  of  the  outer  atmosphere  forces  its  .way 
through  the  openings  and  along  the  surface  of  the  metalic 
cowl  and  sets'  it  in  motion,  and  according  as  the  combustion 
is  more  active  so  is  the  rotation  of  the  cowl  on  its  axis  the 
more  rapid,  and  the  draught  of  the  chimney  is  so  increased 
that  finally  the  flanges  of  the  cowl  can  no  longer  be  distin- 
guished in  their  rotation. 

So  in  the  interior  of  the  earth  the  intense  positive  electricity 
evolved  there,  in  conjunction  with  the  negative  electricity 
also  there  in  great  quantities,  produces  enornaous  heat,  which 
fusing  metals  and  disengaging  gases  of  great  volume  and 
expansive  power,  forces  them  against  the  irregular  surfaces  of 
the  interior  of  the  crust  of  the  earth,  and  sets  the  ball  in  its 
rotary  motion  on  its  axis.  ‘ 

Similar  causes  produce  like  effects  in  the  interior  of  the  sun 
and  of  all  the  planets,  giving  them  all  the  rotation  on  their 
respective  axes  that  we  know  they  have.  With  the  electricity 
thus  evolved  and  escaping  as  it  is  formed  at  their  respective 


96 


poles,  currents  of  magnetism  arc  evolved  at  right  angles  to  the 
earrents  of  electricity  and. cause  the  revolutions  on  their  axes 
to  be  from  west  to  east. 

There  is  no  necessity,  therefore,  for  our  .^astronomers  to 
suppose  that  the  Almighty  has  created  the  sun  to  he  an 
incandescent  body,  whose  combustion  is  to  he  fed  by  half  a 
world  to  illuminate  the  remainder.'  The  sun,  in  fact,  is  proba- 
bly only  a huge  reflector  or  mirror,  receiving  the  rays  of  light 
from  every  orb,  which  rays  themselves  are  of  various  tints,  ns 
every  planet  and  star  has  a colour  peculiar  to  itself,  and  the 
groupings  of  these  primary,  colours  in  the  sun,  and  their  re- 
flections from  him  constitute  the  white  light  that  we  call  sun- 
light. This  explanation  is  in  harmony  wnth  our  ideas  of  the 
Divine  economy,  which  imyer  wastes  any  of  its  material.  The 
siin  is  a great  magnet,  and  regulates  and  controls  by  magnet- 
ism and  not  by  gravitation  all  the  planets  of  his  system,  which, 
consequently,  are  severally  all  magnets.  The  system  is  held 
in  its  place  and  conforms  in  its  movements  by  its  magnetism 
to  the  movements  of  all  the  ox'bs  which  exist  in  space. 

As  these  pdanets  are  all  magnets,  they  can  have  no  other 
heat  than  their  own  internal  heat,  which  is  simply  sufficient 
to  produce  their  respective  rotations  on  their  several  axes,  as 
heat  in  intensity  destroys  magnetism. 

The  reversal  of  the  tails  of  comets  in  their  approach  to  the 
sun  and  departure  from  hiiUj  is  due  to  the  attraction  and 
repulsion  respectively  of  their  magnetic  poles — by  induction 
from  the  greater  magnetism  of  the  sun  itself. 

Winds  are  simply  currents  of  electrified  air,  repelled  from 
their  points  of  departure  by  air  similarly  electrified,  and 
attracted  in  their  various  directions  by  air  at  rest  or  in  motion, 
as  it  may  be,  with  opposite  electricities.  These  repellent  and 
attractive  electricities  acting  on  a strong  current  of  air,  cause 
it  to  be  deflected  from  its  rectilinear  direction,  and  to  assume 
a spiral  curve  in  its  course,  continually  contracting  towards 
its  centre,  till  the  opposing  electricities  equalize  each  other, 
•when  the  electrical  equilibrium  is  restored,  and  a calm  ensues. 
During  the  continuance  of  the  movem'ents  of  the  oppositely 
electrified  currents  of  air  in  these  spiral  curves,  magnetism  is 
developed,  and  this  is  the  source  of  magnetism  in  the  atmos- 
phere. 

Magnetism  in  the  crust  of  the  earth  is,  likewise  developed 


9? 


^ there  ] ;^  r’.r:  -onjmictiois  of  opposite  electrkal_  cur. ents  cir- 
^ ciilatm^  cieev  i;aily  throij^h  *t  !Ci«s  magnetism  permeates  % 
^ tlu’ougii  its  various  molecules,  elippijiog  them  with  .c!!.'-  :etic 
attractiovt  aco  rcpnlsion,  aud  chus  Tr  aLcef,  from  its  a-'i  - opti- 
. bility  01  hococ  dig  magnetized,  assumes  the  power  ot’eUrao- 
• tion  atfribni-ed  to  gravitation. 

Having  thuB.  shown  the  source  froni  which  atmospheric  as 
j 'well  as  terreeirial  magnetism  is  derived,  we  proceed  to  men- 
'f.  tiou  some  of  i 's  attributes. 

The  terra  niagiietism,  which  is^  applied  to  the  science  that' 

I'  describes  the  rnodcs  and  properties  of  a remarkable  force  pos- 
r/ repellent  qualifies,  is  derived  from  a 
magnetic  i''oii  ore,  .that  was  first  noticed  near  Magnesia,  and 
il;  hence  was. named  by  the  ancient  Greeks,  3Iagnes.  It  had.  the 
I'.  |>eculiar  property  of  attracting  iron.  This  force  is  not  con- 
fined  to  the  mineral,  but  seems  to  pervade  all' nature.  It  is 
produced  by  ine  meeting  of  currents  of  opposite  electricities 
in  the- crust  of  the  earth  aud  in  our  atmosphere.  Its  exioteneo 
‘ in  the  fixed  stars,  in  the  infinite  number  of  orbs,  in  the  firma- 

j,  ment,  in  the  nebulas,  comets,  meteors,  &c.,  may  be  attributed 

5 to  a similar  origin.  The  primary  rays  of  light  from  these 

f illuminated  orbs,  of  greatly  diversifica  colours,  passing  with 

> almost  incredible  velocity  from  them  to  our  sun,  through 

■ interstellar  and  interplanetary  spaces  whose  temperature  is 

i . inconceivably  low,  and  consequently  associated  with  negative 
electricity,  developing  as  they  pass  through  this  attenuated 
t etlier,^  wliieii.  fills  these  spaces,  by  friction  therewith,  negative 
f electricity,  pisj  be  supposed  to  enter  the  photosphere  of  the 
r sun  charged  with  negative  electricity.  This  negative 

. ..  clectridtv  b.  g homogeneous,  of  immense  volume,  and  great 

>;  iuteneitj,  rep-f  ..  these  commingled  primary  rays  of  light,  by 

I",  reflection  trom  the  body  of  the  sun  on  their  impact  with  it, 

with  the  ei -ormous  velocity  which  belongs  to  light.  The 
mixture  of  these  primary  rays  of  various  colours  produces  the. 

. white  light  of  the  sun,  or,  as  we  call  it,  sunlight.  This  sun- 
light, negatively  electrified,  driven  wb  h this  immense  speed 
to  the  most  distant  orbs  of  creation,  encounters -in  their  atmos- 
i.  phere,  when  such  exist,  and  by  impact  with  the  bodies  of 
i these  orbs  themselves,  which  have  each  a greater  density  than 
t:  has^  the  ether  through  which  it  had  passed,  great  resistance. 
This  impact  produces  friction,  and  friction  electricity. 

r The  friction  of  matter  having  a temperature  above  32°  of 


98 


ITahr-iulioit  evolves  positive  electricity,  wliile  tliat  of  matter 
whose  temperature  is  below  32°  of  Faliroiiisit  evolves  nega- 
tive '.‘Icefricity.  When  two  blocks  of  iee  are  iol>bed  together 
they  iulberc  by  their  contiguous- surfaces  v,  ii’'  a foret;  greater 
than  cliiit  by  which  the  molecules  of  either  u'-'cle  (if  ice  are 
held  together,  and  a Tracture  of  the  ice  wiU  or.  ur  anywhere 
in  tiii;  Idocks  before  it  will  at  their  jun'-tiori.  A notable 
illusi  ranon  of  the  fricticin  of  matter,  belov  32  ’ ot  Falirenheit, 
prodo.iug  cold  and  its  associate  negathm  eh  ctricity,  is 
furni  ; lied  every  day  in  the  manufacture  of  icnl  .roams  and 
juices  of  fruits.  The  cylinder  contain  mg  the  mr.ojiul  to  be 
frozen  is  placed  in  another  vessel,  surron mb  d I',/  a iVeezing 
mixture  of  broken  ice  and  common  sahg  ny  iuruiug  this 
cylinder  rapidly  in  this  mixture  friction  ie  produced,  which, 
in  abstracting  the  heat  from  the  cream  ;u  jirrees  of  fruits  to 
be  frozen,  reduces,  their  temperature,  and  die  cold  of  the 
freezing  mixture,  with  its  negative  electricity,  is  transferred , 
to  the  cream  or  juices  of  fruits. 

We  may  infer  an  analogy  between  the  composition  of  these, 
distant  orbs  of  the  hrmarnent  and  that  of  oar  own  planet,  and 
tliat  an  opposite  electricity  to  that  of  sunlight  exists  in  them. 
The  conjunction  of  thep  opposing eloctriciti <ck  devel ops  magnet- 
ism, which  at  once  seizes  upon  the  matter  ot  wirich  Buch  orhs  are 
composed  and  imparts  to  it  the  attractive  and  rirgohocit  ;[ualities 
that  itposscsses.  The  orb  assumes  the  to  rm  of  an  cbhite  sj  >horoid 
or  an  ellipsoid,  with  its  equatorial  diameter  longer  than  its  polar 
diameter,  thickened  at  its  equator  and  ilattcuc<l  at  its  poles. 
This  form  imposes  on, it  an  .elliptical  orbit  in  -whi -h  it  revolves 
around  its  local  attraction.  This'  form  in  tlie  planets  and  pro- 
bably the  fixed  stars,  as  in  the  earth,  -s  derived  fr(im  the 
opposite  attractions  and  repulsions  of  matter  iuAhdr  different 
hemispheres — that  in  their  northern  hemisphere  !;cing  attracted 
to  the  south  polo,  and  that  in  the  southern  hemisphere  being 
oppositely  attracted  to  the  north  pole — and  thus  meeting  at 
tlmir  respective  9quators,  where  these  opposite  attractions 
neutralize  each  other,  they  become  thickened  there  at  the 
expense  of  the  matter  at  their  poles  respectively.  The  force 
which  drives  the  sunlight  from  our  sun,  after  its  reflection 
from  its  body,  is  probably  negative  electricity,  for  we  cannot 
ce^nceive  of  any  other  force  adequate  to  produce  such  an  effect. 

It  is  this  force  of  magnetism  of  which  Newton  in  his  day, 
had  some  dight  knowdedge,  hut  not  comprohciMling  dt  as  it 
exists,  he  assigned  sudh  of  its  qualities  as  ho  had  discovered 


99 


erroneously  to  matter,  and  gave  it  the  name  of  gravitation,  as 
if  a planet,  if  such  could  be  made,  of  cotton,  ric;;,  tobacco, 
butter,  cheese  and  molasses,  would  revolve  upon  its  axis  from 
its  own  -weight  and  travel  in  an  orbit  around  the  sun. 

This  force  magnetises  all  things,  imparting  to  them  its  at- 
tractions and  repulsions,  and  thus  regulates  and  controls  the 
movements  throughout  the  universe. 

Let  us  notice  some  of  the  pecularities  of  this  force.  ‘‘  Some 
iron  ores  are  natural  magnets;  steel  rods,  straight,  or  curved 
like  horseshoes,  to  which  magnetism  has  been  imparted, 
as  also  steel  needles  similarly  treated,  are  artificial  magnets. 
The  magnetic  force  is  greatest  at  the  ends  of  the  rods  or 
• needles,  attracting  there. steel  or  iron  filings,  but  diminisbincr 
in  power  as  the  distance  from  the  extremities  is  increased,  an^ 
ceasing  altogether  midway  between  their  ends.  The  ex- 
tremities of  the  rods  or  needles  are  called  its  poles  midway 
between  them,  where  the  force  ceases,  is  called  their  magnetic 
equator.  -A  light  needle  magnetisech  such  as  is  used  'n  the 
mariner’s  compass,  properly  balanced  and  suspendet.  by  its 
centre  is  called  a magnetic  needle.  When  not  restrained  it 
ranges  itself  nearly  parallel  to  a line  joining  the  north  and 
. south  poles  of  the  earth,  one  end  of  the  needle  pointing  to  the 
north,  the  other  end  directed  to  the  south  pole.  Tur.r,ed  from 
its  direction  and  then  released,  it  resumes  again  its  natural  posi- 
tion of  pointing  north  and  south.  These  ends  or  poles  of  a 
-magnet  arc  respectively  attached  to  the  poles  of  the  earth  to 
which  they  point,  and  are  repelled  from  the  opposite  poles 
reciprocally.  In  two  magnets  the  corresponding  poles,  if  ap- 
proached to  each  other,  would  each  repel  the  other  and  attract 
the  opposite  pole  of  the  other  magnet.”  It  is  to  this  attribute 
of  the  magnet  that  the  earth  owes  its  form  of  an  oblate 
spheroid.  The.  earth  being  a magnet,  the  materials  composing 
its  crust  ii,  i.m  northern  hemisphere  have  been  attrai-ted  to- 
wards the  sonth  pole,  and  the  matter  in  the  earth’s  crust  in 
the  southern  hemisphere,  being  also  magnetic,  have  been  at- 
tracted towards  the  north  pole.  These  forces  being  equal 
and  having  ceased  at  the  equator,  the  matters  brought  by  them 
respectively  from  their  several  hemispheres  have  been 
accumulated  and  deposited  in  the  equatorial  regions  of  the 
earth,  which  mass  of  matters  has  so  much  increased  the 
equatoi'ial  diameter  of  the  earth  that-  it  exceeds  the  polar 
diameter  in  length  26  miles.  It  is  probable  that  the  material 
thus  removed  from  the  Doles  of  the  earth  to  its  equator,  have 


ICO 


so  Ijollowed  out  the  crust  of  the  earth  at  the  poles  into  haains 
thiit  seas  have  been  formed  in  them,  which  have  been  filled 
wi  r b water  from  the  Pacific  ocean  through  Behring’s  straits,  and 
Atlantic  ocean  by  the  Gulf  fcitream.  As  the  planets  are  all 
dor  ;>tles3  formed  upon  the  same  principle  aa  those  on  which 
the  earth  is  established,  and  as  we  know  that  similar  ditfer- 
ences  exist  between  the  eqxvirtorial  and  polar  diameters  of 
tVcrxe  orbs  to  the  extent  of  25  miles  in  Mars,  6000  miles  in 
Jupiter-  and  7500  miles  in  Saturn,  we  may  reasonably  infer 
that  magnetic  attraction  and  repulsion  have  increased  their 
erpiatorial  diameters  at  the  expense  of  their  polar  diameters 
ir.  tb.e  pi'oportions  mentioned,  and  that  like  the  earth  they  are 
all  magnets,,  and  owe  tlieir  axial  and  orbitual  rotations  to 
magnetism,  and  not  to  gravitation.  In  this  increase  of  matter 
in  the  equatorial  regions  of  these  planets  of  our  system,  we 
have  the  most  conclusive  evidence  that  the  attraction  of  mat- 
ter in-  these  orbs  is  to  their  respective  equators,  and  not  to  their 
respective  centres  as  Newton  supposed. 

"When  we  regard  these  immense  differences  in  the  equatorial 
and  polar  diameters  of  the  planets,  Jupiter  and  Saturn — ^that  of 
Jupiter  being  6000  miles,  and  that  of  Saturn  7500  miles, 
we  begin  to  comprehend,  in  a sligiit  degree,  the  idea  of  the 
Creator  in  placing  these  planets  at  such  immensely  great 
distances  from  the  sun,  while  He  invests  them  with  a magnet- 
ism so  transcendantly  pO’iverful  in  its  attractions  and  repulsions, 
that  their  revolutions' around  the  sun  are  performed  with  a 
marvelous  certainty  and  exactitude.  The  law  of  magnetic 
attraction  and  repulsion  between  objects  being  inversely  as 
the  square  of  the  distance,  those  distant  orbs  must  have  a 
propelling  or  repellent  power  at  their  greatest  distances  from 
the  sun  of  almost  infinite  magnitude,  to  bring  them  within 
the  attractive  power  of  the  sun,  so  as  to  pass  over  such 
immense  spaces  in  their  allotted  .times.  It  is  the  repellent 
power  of  magnetism  that  returns  them  towards  the  sun. 

“Similiar  poles  of  a magnet  repel,,  and  contrary  poles 
attract  one  another ; magnetic  poles  always  occur  in  pairs.  • If 
a magnet  be  broken  into  many  pieces,  each  fragment  is  found 
to  have  its  north  and  south  poles. 

“Magnetic  attraction  and  repulsion  vary  inversely  as  the 
square  of  the  distance  between  the  magnet  and  the  body 
attracted  or  repelled. 

“ If  in  two  magnets  of  equal  strength,  the  north  polo  of  one 


of  thera  be  placed  in  contact  with  the  south  pole  of  the  ott  er 
magnet,  all  attractive  force  will  disappear.  Remove  tl.e 
contact,  and  the  magnetic  force  is  restored  in  each  of  the 
magnets.  . 

“ If  a pole. of  a permanent  magnet  is  placed  near  to  the  end 
of  a bar  of  soft  iron,  this  bar  will  be  magnetized  by  induciion-, 
the  end  of  the  soft  bar  next  to  the  pole  of  the  mac-net  bavilic 
there  an  opposite  pole  to  tliat  of  the  magnets,  while  at  the 
othei  end  of  the  iron  bar  will  be  found  a contrary  magnetic 
pole.  Magnetization  hy  induction,  he  efFected^throug-h  a 
plate  of  glass,  wood,  metal,  &c.,  without  detriment.  This 
condition  ^nnishes  as  soon  as  the  magnet  is  withdrawn. 

“Besides  iron  and  steel,  nickel,  cobalt,  manganese,  chro- 
mium, platinum,  oxygen  gas  and  inany  other  substances,  suffer 
attraction  by  a inagifft.  Heat  powerfully  inflrpcnces  magnet- 
ism. A magnet  if  heated  to  redness,  loses  all  its  magnetism, 
and  a red  hot  ball  is  not  atttracted  by  a magnet. 

“ Every-.magnetic  substance  has  its  limit  of  temperature; 
thus  cobalt  does  not  cease  to  be  attracted  at  a white  heat:  iron 
ceases  to  be_ attracted  at  a red  heat;  chromium  just  below  a 
red  heat;  nickel  at  350°  Fahrenheit;  and  manganese  ic  not 
attracted  on  a warm  summer  day.  Hence  it  is  probable  that 
certain  substances  which  do  not  appear,  under  ordinary  cir.- 
cunistances,  to  be  attracted  by  a magnet  would  be  attracted  if 
their  temperature  was  reduced  to  a sufficiently  low  degree. 

“A  magnetic  needle  tends  to  set  itself  in  -a  line  with  the 
poles  of  the  earth,  and  if  moyed  from  this  position  returns  to 
it,  as  if  it  was  in  the  presence  of  another  magnet.  This  is  due 
to  the  magnetism  of  the  earth— in  fact,  the  earth  is  a huge 
magnet,  the  poles  and  equator  of  which  do  not  coincide  with 
the  geographical  poles  and  equator. 

“ The  magnetic  meridian  of  a place  is  a yertical  plane  which 
passes  through  the  two  poles  of  a horizontally  suspended 
magnetic  needle  at  this  place,  and  which  being  continued  in 
both  directions  will,  of  course,  pass  through  the  magnetic 
poles  of  the  earth.^  The  magnetic  meridian  of  a place  will 
not  coincide  with  its  geographical  meridian,  and  the  ano-le 
formed  by  the  two  meridians  is  called  the  magnetic  deviation, 
variation  or  declination,  at  this  place. 

“ The  yariation  of  the  needle  does  not  hlways  remain  the 
same.  In  the  year  1580  (the  first  year  in  which  accurate 


102 


. . 'ions  were  made)  the  north  end  nf  tlm  needle  deviated 
11 ' ' to  the  east  of  the  true  north  in  London.  In  1G22  the 

deviati  >r.  was  6°  east  of  the  north,  and  in  IGGO  the  magnetic 
iiortli  ’ ■■>(6  coincided  with  the' gcograpl'ieal  north  pole.  In 
1G0*2  ii  had  passed  to  G^  west  of  noi'th.  In  1TG5  it  was  20° 
west  ; fU'  i in  1818  it  attained  its  maximum  westerly  deviation — 
24°  41  . It  is  now  returning  to  the  north.  In  1850  the 
westerly  deviation  was  22°  30';  and  in  Oetoher,  1871,  the  de- 
viation observed  at  the  Kerr  Observatory  war  20°  18'  7''. 
This  i:  the  secular  variation  of  tlie  magnevic  needle.  A deli- 
cately suspended  magnet  may  be  obsevsed  to  undergo  an 
annual,  daily,  and  even  hourly  variation. 

“ If  a steel  needle  be  accurately  balanced  about  a horizontal 
centre,  and  be  there  magnetized,  it  will  no  longer  be  in  hori- 
zontal -<|uilibi'ium.  In'Loridon  the  north  end  of  the  needle 
will  G’. :>  down,  forrning  an  angle  of  more  than  60°,  wnth  a 
horizor.tul  plane.  The  angle  which  a magnetic  needle, 
capabii-  c>f  vertical  movement,  [dipinng  needle,)  makes  with  a 
horizo?;  cal  plane  is  called  the  angle  of  inclination  or  dip.  The 
vertical  ]dane  in  which  the  needle  moves  must  coincide  ^vith 
the  ma  .luetic  meridian  of  the  place. 

“Tlw  dip  varies  in  different  parts  of  the  world.  If  we 
convi'y  a dipping  needle  north  of  London  the  dip  increases-; 
if,  ori"  the  other  hand,  w^e  go  south  of  London  the  dip 
diminishes;  at  the  magnetic  equator  there  is  no  dip,  the 
needle  's  perfectly  horizontal ; and  south  of  the  equator  the 
south  ■'■'ie  of  the  needle  begins  to  dip,  and  the  dip  increases 
as  w'c  i ■ ' further  south.  Thus  the  dip  at  Peru  is  0°,  at  Lima 
1G°  3C'h  at  the  Capo  of  Good  Hope  34°,  and  at  Hudson’s  Bay 
behvec--;  89°  and  90°. 

“•T'h'  'magnetic  'poles  of  the  earth  are  those  points  on  the 
earth's  surface  at  wLich  a dipping  needle  assumes  a vertical 
position.  The  north  magnetic  pole.  W'as  discovered  by  Sir 
James  Loss,  in  1830.  It  is  situated  in  longitude  96°  43'  west, 
latitude  79°  north.  The  south  magnetic  pole,  is  as  yet, 
unknowii. 

“The  magnetic  equator  of  the  earth  is  a line  connecting  all 
those  places  on  the  earth’s  surface,  at  wdhch  there  is  no  dip. 
It  is  an.  irregular  closed  circular  line  cutting  the  terrestrial 
equator  at  four  points.  The  dip  of  a magnetic  needle  is 
subject  to  both  3«cnlar  and  periodic  changes.  Thus  in  1576 
it  was  71°  61'  in' London;  a hundred  years  later,  it  was  73° 


103 


r 

30',  and  in  1723,  it  readied  a maximura  of  74°  42'.  In  1800, 
it  had  decreased  to  70°  35',  and  in  October  1871,  the  dip 
registered  at  the  Ivew  Observatory  rras  67°  56'  3".  The  dip 
also  undergoes  annual  and  daily  changes. 

“If  a horizontally  suspended  magnetic  needle  be  moved 
from  its  position  of  rest,  it  returns  to  it,  passes  it,  and  oscil- 
lates backwards  and  forwards  across  the  final  positioii  of  rest 
in  the  magnetic  meridian  of  the  place;  in  fact,  it  beconies  a 
horizontal  peiKlrdum"  oscillating  under  the  intluence  of  the 
earth’s  magjietism.  It  has  been  proved  that  the  intensity  of 
the  earttds  magnetism,  at  any  two  places,  is  proportional  to 
the  square  of  the  number  of  oscillatious  made  by  the  same 
magnetic  needle  at  these  places. 

“ Yarious  determinations  of  the  intensity  of  the  earth’s 
magnetism  prove  that  the  force  increases  as  we  pass  froin  tho 
CHjuator  to  the  .poles,  as  in  an  ordinary  magnet.  Thus  if  tlie 
intensity  at  Peru'  he  taken  as  unity,  the  intensity  in  London 
will  be  represented  by  1.369,  and  at  Baffin’s  Bay  by  1.7U7. 

■ “All  matter  is  affected  by  a powerful  magnet,  hut  while 
many  substances  (iron,  nickel,  manganese,  oxygen  gas,  &c.,) 
are  attracted,  other  substances  (bismutb,  copper,  hydrogen, 
&c.,)  are  repelled  by  both  nolcs  of  the  magnet. 

“-  If  a email  bar  of  iron  or  other  attracted  substance,  be  sus- 
pended iioLweeu  the  poles  of  a magnet,  the  bar  will  set  itself 
axkdbj,  that  is  with  its  length  in  a line  joining  the  two  poles. 
If  on  the  other  hand  a bar  of  bismuth  or  other  repelled  sub- 
stance bo  suspended  in  a like  position,  it  ^vill  set  itself  oj'iatorb- 
ally,  that  is  at  right  angles  to  a,  line  joining  the  poles  of  tfio 
magnet,  because  as  it  is  repelled  by  both  poles,  it  will 
endeavor  to  ki'cp  as  far  away  from  them  as  possible.  Such 
bodies  are  called  dia- magnetic” 

In  Professor  Tyndall’s  introduction  to  bis  “Besearcbos  on 
Bia-^Magnetism.”  writing  of  Professor  Faraday,  be^  state^ 
“ That  having  laid  hold  of  the  fact  of  repulsion,  he_  immedi- 
ately expanded  and  multiplied  it.  He  subjected  bodies  of  the 
most  various  qmdities  to  the  action  of  his  magnet;  mineral 
salts,  acids,  alkalies,  ethers,  alcohols,  aqueous  solutions,  glass, 
phosphorus,  resins,  oils,  essences,  vegetable  and  animal 
tissues,  and  found  them  all  amenable  to  magnetic  influence. 
N"o  known  solid  or  liquid  proved  insensible  to  the  magnetic 
power.  When  developed  in  sufficient  strength,  all  the' tissues 


104 


of  f he  hu.Vian  body,  the  blood — it  coi.t.d;! ; iron-^ 
inclviuud,  .voi'o  proved  to  be  dia-ma^notic,  so  !lt.u  d’y  .u  could 
suspend  ft  onar.  between  the  poles  of  a magnet, 'his  extrenuties 
' would  retreat  from  the  poles,  until  his  length  dei  iioic  ecpiato- 
rial,”  tliat  is  to  say,  horizontally  peroendicular  to  the  magnetic 
merhlian.. 

From  the  dip  or  inclination  of  the  magneti(-  needle  on 
various  jiarts  of  the  e/u'th’s  surface — as  magnetism  is  a dual 
force — we  infer  that  one  of  its  poles  is  jiitraiitcd  by  the 
■magnetism  existing  in  the  upper  atmosphere,  wldlo  the  other 
is  attracted  to,  the  magnetism  in  the  crest  of  the  earth 
beneath.  At  Peru  the  dip  is  0°,  owing  itrobably  to  the 
heat,  in  the  interior  of  the  earth  under  1‘fwu,  Avhich  is 
freqncrddy  manifested  in  the  most  violent  carilvi'mices  and 
volcanic  action,  and  heat  we  know  destroys  mar'-ruitir-m.  As 
the  dip  of  the  needle  in  either  hemisphere  increases  from  the 
magnetic  equator  toward,  the  poles,  it  is  obvious  that  the 
magnetism  in  the  upper  atmosphere,  as  well  'as  in  the  crust  of 
the  earth,  also  increases  in  a like  proportion,  attrilmtablo 
<loul)th'S8  to  the  increased  cold,  both  of  the  up|>cr  atmosphere 
and' I he  crust  of  the  earth  in  high  latitude,  and  as  negative 
clectriciiy  and  magnetism  arc  both  associated  witli  extreme 
cold,  we  find  herein  an 'Explanation  of  the  dip  of  ibo  im.ignetic 
needle. 

In  the  .attraction  and  repulsion  of  the  mag.e.etic  needle, 
horizontally,  at  the  magnetic, equator  towards  tlm  north  and 
south  ])o1g3  of  the  earth,  we  have  a dual  horkionta!  force.  In 
the  deviation  of  the  needle  cast  or  west  of  imrili  or  south,  we 
ha.ve  another  dual  force  acting  horizontally.  Iii  the  class  of 
siiiiiccts  called  din-magnetic,  which  arrange  themselves  at  right 
angles  to  the  magnetic  meridian,  or  equatorlaliy  as  it  is 
termed, -we  have -another  dual  force  acting  horizontally.  In 
the  dip  of  the  needle,  which  is  nothing  at  the  _ magnetic 
equator,  hut  whose  angle  with  the  horizon  hicreasing  there- 
. from  as  we  advance  towards  either  pole  till  it  reuchos  90°  or 
a quadrant  of  a circle,  we . find  another  dual  force  with  one 
set  of  poles  in  the  frozen  crust  of  the  earth,  wlnle  an  o}>posite 
set  of  poles  is  in  the  equally  frozen  regions  of  the  arctic  and 
antarctic  upper  atmosphere  of  our  planet. 

These  forces,  with  electricity  and  heat,  all  developed  by 
light  and  controlled  by  the  omniscient  wisdom  of  the 
Almighty,  are  the  powers  which  regulate  the,  motions  of  our 
planet  and  preserve  it  in  its  integrity. 


105 


TVe  ■■•-y  --ell  dispenso^  therefore,  w’"i'  the  wh.Me  uieory  or 
f centri  i 1 : 1 iiii  'lcentrifiiejal  forces,  and  of  tlieaitracrt  on  of  matte., 
r by  wt •..!.■!  I.-',  'doh  continually  is  being  change;:  with  tire  fovihs 

^ and  l'-  it  assumes,  the  same  subsrauce heing at  ononme 

solid  .!■’  : 'fixed  to  the  earth,  then  liquid  and  tnoval.fie  ou  its 

; surface  ana  again-  gaseous  and  floating  in  its  atia.Ocphere. 

I above  It. 

In  c.-nnoction  with  this  subject  of  magnetism,  b is  ourioiib 
to  ob:  Li'.  e that  in  the  animal  and  vegetable  ki  gdoms  the 
forms  ->f  -be  productions  all  conform,  in  a groa;'  ‘ :u;ie?f  -v 
degree,  b.  ’he  typical  forms  of  ellipsoids,  or  oblate  sphoroir..ir, 
as  maniicsied  in  the  planets.  Examine  the  forms  o'houi  'rees. 
Vcrtic;h  cc;  horizontal  sections,  when  they  a-’e  in  ;u)’  leai^ 
would  dis' ir)i?A  curved  lines,  which,  if  tangeutiai  to  tno  ox- 
tremi:  ■ < -f  their  leafy  branches,  would  represent  the  cl  nnents 
of  an  - -■ — in  some  cases  elongated,  in  others  nppr  o';  hing 

p nearly  O'-  he  form  of 'a  circle.  So  with  thf.ir  lcave«,  l.-ov,  over 
K-  'long  and  narrow  tliey  may  be,  the  elemental  character  of.  the 
■ellipse  is"  .'oi.arent  in  them.  The  fruits  they  bear  have  >1’. 
similar  ':;.;:::ieteristics.  The  apple,  the  peach,  tho  p'.ui,  the 
£ apricor,  ti'C  nectarine,  and  indeed  all  the  stone  f-uits,  haYO 

S.  shapes  -orresponding  nearly  to  the  ellipsoid.  The  nut-lx-ariug 

g trees,  from  the  coeoa-iiut  through  the  walnuts,  hieko-ie-S, 

S pecan  n^r.ei,  chestnuts  and  beeches,  all  produce  fruits  which, 

S;  in  tbeir  ou  c •f'orma,  piartake  of  the  character  of  ellipr  oid-Y  or 

By.  ■ oblate  sj-;.ciY>his.  The  coffee-berry,  the  olive,  the  tig,  the  date, 
j all  cogi  espY..  •;!  in  their  general  forms  to  the  sfime  type.  A moiig 

W ‘ what  r;re  cal -od  vegetables,  from  the  enormous  mclnn,  in' ail 
Ei.  its  varir  it  8,  Tlirottgh  the  pod-beariug  plants,- the  eabljago.  ,&c., 
t tlie  same  tvjie  is  visible.  So  in  the  roots  and  tabciY,;  the 
jt  turnip  is  vn  ublate  spheroid,  the  potato  commonly  an  cllip- 
r sold,  as  -y'y  also  the  carrot  and  the  parsnip.  • In  the  seeds  of 

t.  the  faTaily  or  grapes,  as  well  as  in  their  leaves,  the  same  Ibrrms 

' are  fou  . a The  bunches  of  grapes,  as  well  as  their  berries, 

t;  are  all  t : In,  same  characteristic  form.  Take  even  the  grh?..os 

-—in  M’;i- 1:,  nsny  he  included  the  cereals.  Their  long  aed  iiai 
t row  h ■ . - Y n -.e  all  elliptical  in  form,  though  they  may,  in  some 
i cases,  be  [-.T -ted  at  their  outer  extremities.  TJiese  long  ieaves 
' assume  the  ■'•rni  of  a eemi-ellipse,  in  their  curvature  iiom  the 
stem  er  i^r-YYohes,  from  which  they  grow,  towards  the  ground. 

; So  it  is  yvkh  tl=e  long  blades  of  maize  or  Indian  corn,  the  ^ugar 

> cane,  and  sorghum.  The  leaves,  fruits  and  branches  of  trees, 

Y for  the  most  part,"  have  an  inclination  towards  the  earth,  and 
are  commonly  pendant.  Their  tops  are  attracted  upwards, 

I' 


106 


a'^:  i are  fro<jnently  vertical.  Wliy  'do  their  brancTics  extend 
lu  ''ail  v'  and  downwards,  while  their  trunks ■ and  sanimits 
, sr.oK,l  vo  vticnlly  in  the  atmosphere?  And  why  do  their 
li  ’’cs  an  d d aits  hang  downwards  ? Is  it  not  hcca  asc  of  their 
magnetic  '•^oivlition  ? Kow,  the  leaves,  fruits. and,  branches  of 
trees,  ’.vhi  di  van’Kue  horizontal,  or  slightly  inclined  directions, 
may  he.  8n;)V>')sed  to  be  dia-magnetic,  and  nnder  the  i'dluence 
o>.'  the  horizontal  currents  of  magnetism  that  set  aonatorially 
to  the  magnetic  meridian;  vddle  the  trunks  a)'  i ■■i..i:)iaits,  re- 
psllcd  by  the  rnagnetism  of  the  earth,  are  attracted  h}'  the  op- 
posite magnetism  of  the  upper  atmosphere,  and  ?Ae  % orticallj. 
These  t^^'o  forces,  varying  in  intensity,  produce  ali  iho  re.sultaut 
directions  wldch  their  hVanches  assume  in  theu  development. 
Fruits  of  trees,  being  ellipsoidal  in  form,  (which,  is  the^  com- 
mon form  of  simple  magnets,)  and  generally  pen  <lant  vertically, 
when  they  fall  to  the  ground  are  attracted  the ro  hy  the  supe- 
rior magnetism  of  the  earth,  and  remain  on  it  hy  the,  same 
attraction,  unless  removed  from.it  hy  a superior  force. 

If  there  is  any  truth  in  the  story  of  Sir  Isaac  iN  ovv  fcon  hav- 
ing.heen  led  to  the  adoption  of  his  theory  of  gravitation,  and 
of '^centripetal  and  centrifugal  forces,  by  the  sight  of  au  apple 
falling  from  its  tree  to  Jhe  ground,  it  is  to  he  lanicn/u.;  i that  he 
did  not  investigate  the  force  which  expanded  tlic  seed,  c.aused 
its  germination,  pushed  it  from  the  soil,  (whcr.e  ! y gra citation 
it  should  liavc  remained,)  and  directed  its  iico'c.ly'y^mcnt  up- 
wards and  laterally,  forming  its  fruit-bud,  hlossc-ra  mid  fruit, 
and  holding  the  biter  suspended  hi  the  air,  uuuh.hcu:d  by  raih,_ 
hail  or  wind,  till  in  its  maturity,  its  growth  covapicteh,  it  fell" 
to. the  earth,  liy  the  attractive  power  of  the'samo  iorcc  which 
bad  repelled  its  parent  tree  from  the  soil.  Had  ho  done  st>, 
we  might  not  now  he  compelled  to  begin  anew  the  siudy  of 
terrestrial,  physics,  after  liaving  abandoned  the  learned  speeu 
lations  of  this  celebrated  philosopher 

How,  in  the  animal  kingdom,  we  will  begin  with  man,  wht», 
we  flatter  ourselves,  is  the  highest  development  of  animal  lift. 
As  he  stands  erect  upon  his  feet,  if  wc  suppose  a vertical  jdanc 
to  he  passed  through  his  person  laterally,  the  curved  Hue  so 
produced,  tnngentiid  to  his  prominences,  would  bo  an  ellipse. 
The  revolution  of  that  ellipse,  on  its  longer  axis,  would  pro- 
duce an  ellipsoid.  How,  that  ellipsoid  is,  during  the  life  ol 
the  man,  a magnet,  with  opposite  poles  at  its  licad  and  feet, 
and  various  parts  of  his  body  arc  , also  separate  magndts,  but 
in  harmony  with  the  chief  magnet.  His  legs  arc  a horse  shoe 


107 


magnet,  with  the  poles  in  the  feet,  and  the  five  toes  on  each 
cf  his  feet  constitute,  for  each  foot,  four  horse  shoe  - mag- 
nets. AVhen,  from  disordered  health,  the  magnetism  is.  either 
leg  is  no  longer  produced,  paraij’sia  of  that  limb  v - ralfs,  and 
the  contractile  and  expansive  power  of  the  muscf?,-  is  no 
longer  acted  upon  by  the  electricity  of  the  system^  d no  arms 
furnish  another  horse  shoe  magnet,  and  the  five  fingers  jf  each 
hand  constitute,  each,  four  horse  shoe  maguets,  w tU  f:.  poles 
at  the  extremities.-  The  optic,  nasal  and  auditory  n-  rves,- in 
each  pair  respectively,  constitute  a horse  shoe  magn  j;.  The 
genital  organs  are  each  a separate,  hut  very  powert^ui  anagnet, 
and  are  ellipsoids  in  forrd. 

In  quadrupeds,  the  fore  legs  are  a horse  shoe  magnet,  as  also 
are  the  hind  legs.  The  split  hoofs  of  the  ruminants  a -e  also 
horse  shoe  magnets;  so  are  the  rounil  hoofs  of  the  ao-i’f.e,  the 
ass,  the  mule  and  the  zebra,  with  their  poles  pointing  to  the 
rear,  instead  of  to  the  front.  A lateral  horizontal  sec'l  of  a 
quadruped  through  bis  head,  neck  and  body,  wov-ld  o.^^elop 
an  elliptical  curve.  . The  jaws  of  animals  are  horse 

shoe  magnets.  A seipent,  which  is  also  an  ellipsoich  is  a mag- 
uet,  and  when  it  is  coiled,  each  of  its  coils  preserves  i'  c elli^ 
soidal  form.  The  same  type  runs  through  the  feathei  cd  tribes, 
and  the  forms  of  the  fishes  everywhere  partake,  more  or  less, 
of  the  elementary  character  of  the  ellipsoid. 

In  the  investigation  of  this  subject  it  will  he  found  that  the 
attachment  of  animals  to  the  earth,  and  theiiTocomotiou  upon 
it,  are  due  to  magnetism,  and  not  to  gravitation.  . It  will  he 
observed,  that  in  all  animals,  their  bodies,  which  are  their 
l.eaviest  parts,  are  the  farthest  removed  from  the  surface  of 
the  earth,  which  coiild  not  he  the  case  if  they  were  held  to  the 
earth  by  the  attraction  of  their  weight  or  gravity.  As  Kew- 
ton’s  rule  is  that  the  attraction  of  gravitation,  is  proportional  to 
the  mass  or  weight,  and,  as  the  head,  neck,  body  and  thighs 
are  the  heaviest  parts  of  the  animal,  they  should  bo  nearest"  to 
the  earth,  which  it  is  known,  they  are  not. 

■ Fow,  why  is  this  type  so  universal — as  well  in  planets  as  in 
whatever  that  has  life  upon  them?  Is  it  not  because  of  mag- 
netism, that  has  developed  this  form  and  its  modifications? 
Does  hot  the  magnetism  of  the  atmosphere  control  the  move- 
ments of  birds  by  its  attractions  and  repnlsious;  of  the  sea, 
which  is  highly  magnetic,  those  of  the  fishes  and  marina 
animals  which  inhabit  it;  and  of  both  the  air  and  the  land, 
those  of  the  animals  who  live  upon  the  land,  and  of  the  plants 


108 


which  oro  dcvolopc-fl  in  its  soil?  Magnetism,  therefore,  is  an 
element  of  lito,  in  -plants  and  animals,  and  is  one  .of  the  motive 
powers  of  phinetary  ami  stellar  -movemeuts  in  the  universe. 

Let  no\v  rctuni  to  Moses  and  his  book  of  Genesis.  In 
i.lie  2(1  clmptor  and  7th  verse,  he  says:  “And  the  Lord  God 
formeti.  muir  of  the  slime  of  tiie  earth,  and  breathed  into  Iris 
facet!)'.;  i)!  oath  of  life;  and  man  became  a living  soul.”  And 
‘u  the  2l  - t verse,  “ Tlxen  the  Lord  God- cast  a deep  sleep  upon 
Adam,  aiiti  wiioa  ho  was  fast  asleep,  ho  took  one  of  his  ribs 
and  fio.  ' uj)  liosh  f;.)r  it.”  And  in  the  22d  verse,  “.And  the 
Lord  i'(d  built  tiic  rib  wliich  he  took  from  Adam  into  a 
woma  r;,  n"d  brought  lier  to  Adam.”  '\V'’hen  wo  remember  the 
history  o.f  Misses,  his  birth  of  Israelitish  parents,  in  the  pro- 
vince of  Goslu'u,  bordering  on  the  Delta  of  the  river  Nile; 
the  at:. ‘mid  of  Jils  motlicr  to  save  him  from  the  destruction 
decrc Oil  1)  v"  riiairu  th  against  all  the  male  children  of  the  Hebrews, 
by  plaei'tg  :urn  on  the  river  ITile,  in  a water  tight  cradle  made  ■ 
of  pai:yrr/s,  among  the  water  plants  of  that  stream;  his  dis- 
covery bv  li/liaraoh’s  daughter  as  slie  Avas  proceeding  to  bathe 
in  tlm  ri-'mr  near  by;  his  delivery  to  his  mother  to  be  nursed 
and  rc  ir.id,  till  ho  should  be  old  enough  to  ho  educated  as  the 
adept  ‘d  s >u  of  the  I’riii^coss,  who  had  'discovered  him  iu  the 
river;  ids  education  by  the  priests,  Avho  at  that  period,  as  a- 
class,  Avoro  the  iii.-yst  learned  persons  in  Egypt;  his  subsccpient 
aband.nim.ant  of  the  court  of  Pharaoh,  and  flight  into  the 
desert,  wlicri'  ho  passed  forty  years  of  liis  life;  his  selection  aa 
leader  of  bis  -jieople  in  their  llight  from  Egypt,  and  his  resi- 
dence arrmng  taom  for.  the  last  forty  years  of.  liis  life  ; avo  are 
not  .sumo  Iso'i  that  so  learned  a man,  of  such  Amricd  experi- 
ences, sf'  aid  have  hocn  chosen  to  conduct  such  a people  as 
the  Isr:.(  ff)tc3  out.  of  bondage,  to  a laud  flowing  Avith  milk  and 
honey. 

dn  tbe  l.cmplcs  of  Egypt,  he  had  doubtless  seen  the  priests 
oftciitiim-.i  engaged  in  making  their  idols  out  of  the  slime  of 
the  I'iA'vi*  mile.  Perhaps  he  himself  may  have  assisted  in  their 
man  a fv.;  rare.  Ho  must  have  had  the  lustory  of  his  life  im- 
parted t;,!  blm,  and  the  ooze  of  the  river  on  AA'hich  his  cradle 
had  re.itod  must  have  been  to  him  a familiar  object.  He  kiieAV 
the  p] art ic' character  of  its  slime,  hoAV  easily  it  could  be  made 
toassaruo  any  form.  And  he  AAms  probably  acquainted  Avith 
the  quahrios  of  the  various  materials  composing  it,  A’iz  : the 
cjarhonate  of  lime,  from  the  bed  of  the  river,  the  remains  of 
flsh  and  reptiles,  replete  aauUi  phosphates,  and  the  vegetable 


tv.  / 


• 109 

matter,  in  almoa,t  every  stage  of  decomposition.'  When,  there- 
for*!, it  was  revealed  to  lam  by  the  Almiglity  that  he  had 
formed  man  out  of  the  slime  of  the  cartlx,  he  could  readily 
understand  that  Divine  power  could  faslxion^a  mail  our,  :.f  such 
luateuials,  but  the  investing  this  man  of  ilesh  mad  ;l:'  clay 
with  life,  by  simply  breathing  into  his  face,  was  eucd  ;i  mn,ni-^ 
iestacion  of  power  as  must  have  confounded  all  his  rensoning 
faculties. 

Let  us  see  if  we  can  form  any  idea  of  how  this  vitabzat’or- 
of  the  first  man  was  efiected.  Remember  that  this  irj  a reve- 
lation of  a physical  fact,  and  in  communicating  it  to  - ankind 
through  the  medium  of  Moses,  the  Cjroator  did  not  ; can  to 
make  any  secret  of  it,  but  has  left  it  to  us  to  -disco vcir  if  we 
can,  without  discrediting  the  act,  or  disbelievirg  thr  revela- 
tion. Let  us  suppose  the  first  man  to  have  boon  made  out  of 
the  materials  mentioned,  lie  is  complete  in  all  his  organisms ; 
they  are  all  prepared;  and  ready  to  work. as  soon  as  sdtality 
shall  be  imparted  to  them.  This  is  done  by  “ breathi  xg  in  his 
face  the  breath  of  life,”  and  “the  man  becomes  a living  souL” 
iNow,  the  first  inquiry  is,  what  is  the  breath  of  life  ? Accord- 
ing to  Moses,  light  had  been  created,  the  earth  had  received 
its  form,  the  three  kingdoms,  animal,  vegetable  and  x nnoral, 
were  defined,  and  their  functions  were  being  performed,  an 
atmosphere  existed,  and  we  may  suppose  that  it  ivas  consti- 
tuted to  fulfil  all  the  conditions  which  appertain  to  it  at  the 
present  day.  Its  elements  were  the  same  then  as  now.  Light, 
which  from  the  beginning  had  been  passing  through  intersteh 
lar  and  interplanetary  spaces,  with  its  inconceivable  velocity, 
had,  on  entering  the  denser  medium  of  the  atmosphere,  pro- 
duced enormous  friction,  by  which  electricity,  and  subse- 
quently magnetism,  had  been  evolved  to  perA’cn  the  parts 
assigned  to  them  in  the  Divine  economy.  T.  f eu  Adam,  there- 
fore, was  finished  in  his  structural  condition,  and  tlio  blood 
lay  in  his  heart  and  lungs,  arteries  and  veins,  without  motion, 
but  ready  for  use,  all  that  was  necessary  was  to  fill  his  lungs 
with  atmospheric  air,  negatively,  electrified,  and  life  at  once 
became  established  in  his  system.  This  was  done  by  breath- 
ing in  his  face  the  breath  of  life,  that  is  to  say  atmospheric  air, 
which,  conducted  by  the  nostrils  and  the  mouth  through  the 
windpipe  to  the  lungs,  and  through  the  eyes  and  ears  do  the 
brain,  and  meeting  there  the  blood  oppositely  electrified,  the 
conjunction  of  these  opposite  electricities  produced  heat,  which, 
eonsuminw  the  carbon  of  the  blood  in  the  oxygen  gas  of  the 
atmospheric  air,  formed  carbonic  acid  gas,  thus  purifying  the 


110 


blocd  .v^  It'S  carbon,  imparting  to  it  a beat  of  100°  of  temperntnre, 
pof  itl  ; 0 ' -lectrificd,  and  expelling  from  the  lungs,  through  the 
movii'-  ' nostrils,  the  carbonic  acid  gasAvhich  has  been  ihus 
formo  L The  blood,  after  having  been  thus  purified,  rushed 
into  iieart,  driven  by  the  positive  electricity  of  the  lungs, 
and  fr<r;'  tue  heart  forced  into  the  arteries,  from  whicl:  it  Avas 
distriimteo  to  all  parts  of  the  system  for  its  renovation  and 
Euppto  u This  arterial  blood,  starting  fi’om  the  heart  Avith  a 
temperature  of  100°  F.,  rolls  in  the  arteries,  producing  friction 
and  cvrii  vij.g  electricity,  supplying  all  the  organs  of  the  body 
vrith  : ariouc  materials  for  their  renovation  and  nutrition,  and 
dovelc-r  ‘;g  :-agnetism,  but  losing  more  heat  than  it  generates, 
80  ti:  o hy  ine  time  this  arterial  blood  has  passed  througl'  the 
capillcric.u  a‘i sd  has  entered  the  veins  to  return  to  the  heart,  it.has 
lost  t .v  o degrees  of  temperature,' and  it  i-eturns  to  the  heart  as 
vonour  ir  ood,  Avith  a temperature  of  98°  F.  This  loss  of  tAvo 
degrees  of  heat  in  traversing  the  body,  changing  the  elec- 
tricity of  the  blood,  by  induction,  from  ijcing  positive  to  being 
negabve;  in  the  heart  it  becomes  again  posithm,  and  rushes 
info  tlic  lungs  to  meet  the  negative  electricity  of  the  atmos- 
pheric ■^d.r,  AAdierc  the  same  process  of  burning  the  carbon  of 
tlie  blood  ir.  the  oxygen  gas  of  the  atmospheric  air,  puri tying 
the  b ‘ou,  driving  it  b«^ck  again  into  the  heart  and  tiience 
throuo-h  the  arteries  throughout  the  system  as  before,  and  so 
Oil  AA^irdo  li  fe  exists  in  its  normal  condition.  This  is,  probably, 
the  pl'-ysical  life  of  man,  as  described  in  the  2d  chapter  and  7th 
verse  c-  ihe  book  of  Genesis;  and  Ave  find  that  electricity, 
heat,  and  magnetism,  are  essential  elements  of  it,  and  that 
without  tnem  it  cannot  exist 

i)r.  b !rc,  in  his  celebrated  experiment,  of  convepng  currents 
of  electricity  along  the  spinal  nerves  of  the  recently  executed 
malefactor, '^Clydesdalc,  while  the  body  was  still  warm,  tliough 
life  was  extinct,  produced  a horrible  caricature  of  the  operations 
of  life,  liy  calling  into  violent  contractions  the  muscles  of  the 
face.  All  the  expressions  of  i*age,  hatred,  despair  and  horror 
wore  depicted  upon  the  features,  producing  so  revolting  a 
scene  tluit  many  spectators  fainted  at  the  - sight.  In  like 
manner  uauscular  contractions  and  expansions  of  the  limbs, 
imitating  the  movements  of  actual  life,  Avere  exhibited,  to  tile 
astonishment  of  beholders.  , 

The  ingenious  physicist.  Fitter,  of  Munich,  in  Bavaria,  cele- 
brated for  his  experiments  in  gahmnisin,  has,  through  them, 
among  other' things,  established  the  fact,  that  a constant  de- 


111 


I velop!.  . .:'■  ' ■ electricity  accompanies  all  the  ph-.-norncTi^. 

^ ^y; u-i  :'i-agnetism  is  developed  by  cutront---  of  elec-ii- 

city,  it  iV'i SOU'S,  iiuit  in  iv.oviog-the  legs  of  aniiv!;'.’!.'.  t’l.e  expan- 
-sion  a-iil  c>o  vractioa  of  their  muscles  prodyr-e  fVh'ijiSn  and 
! evolve  nu  ei^^etricity  opposed  to  that  which  Las  fu  t Mmm  hi 
motioti,  a-  -:,  ;n.  the  same  time,  the  conjunctic-  «L'  Lie- - oppo- 
site eh-  : Iiioji  aloo  develops  magnetism,  wL'-ii  once  is 

acted  voou  p;,  the  superior  magnetism  of  the  eani<,  ao  i hen.  e 
you  ha,  r a ;>  g lifted  from  the  earth. and  anidhor  pt  ; - i upon 
it,  in  1 cori  -o  ion,  hy  the  force  of  magnetism,  m l tb;.;.  is  ',‘e- 
peatui  0’  ; : : en  aemued  at  the  will  of  "the  tuiinud. 

The  cf  -rhro  :-od  naturalist.  Prof.  Louis  Agassiz,  in  Ids  'ecturea 
onEmijj  , olOoV;  stated,  that  tlio  beginning  of  any  o;  l :ife  vras  i;i 
an  egg.  ).a  - see  if  we  can  co  nprehendits  traotM-rotar.-on  in:a 
> life.  "Hie  sevos  are  oppositely  electrified.  In  tin,:  Li-oton  race 
the  femaiesgirum  .the  positive  and  persistent  ci'f'  r-iotr.r  of  ihoir 
demands,  may  he  termed  positively  electrif-a.  TLo  ma-es, 

. ■ from  ti>eir  h;ihit  of  negation  or  denial  of  the  t o-mia  of  -he 
females,  JP.  I ih  h is  of  too  couimon  occurrence,  ji'av  be  terme  i 
negatively  electrified.  These  -opposing  cordoions  crer  isi 
sexual  attmet ion ; when  a coumnetion  of  these  eiM.op.'te  ewe- 
tricities  oc-oiirs  in  the  act  of  coition,  a certain  d(  - ci  heat  is 
developed,  am]  magnetism  is  ai  lo  evolved— the  - , ler. gaged 
from  the  oveiri  im  is  magnetiziol  and  positively  J.  t;  - n-  d,  aud 
through  tiie  Eallopian  tubes,  enlarged  by  be  .^,1,';  of  the 
coition,  is  carried  into  the  uterus,  prepared  to  receive  if,' 
Thus,  viiahond  by  the  electricity  and  magnetir-m  noo: 
been  imparted  to  it,  its  own  heat,  and  that  of  lim  ohorus,  ni 
which  it  is  deposited,  continue  to  preserve  tho  hfe  which  Las' 
i ■ thus  been  culled  into  being.  Such,  also,  is  the  commence- 
y meut  of  animal  magnetism. 

I Du  Bois  Tleymond  states  “that  the  electricaf  o-.-r-rent  man:- 
I fests  itself  in  different  directions,  in  the  im.-i.a  ; - different 
h animals,  and  with  greater  intensity  in  some  . duinlr  than  m 
§.  others.  The  electro-motive  forces  thus  operating  in  the  m:-.-?- 
cles  depaud  upon  the  opposite  electrical  [?  mam-  ■n-'’  oondi 
tions  exim: eg  between  their  longitudinal  and  tw^c  .v^foe  sum 
y tions.”  fcv;-  duo,  with  respect  to  the  nervous  8ysv:on,  he  stati  s 
that  the  nerves  are  subject,  in  their  sectional  arrangoruents,  to 
the  same  law  as  the  muscles.  This  must  he  understood,  hov- 
fV  ever,  with  reference  only  to  the  exercise  of  their  inherent  elec- 

> tro-motive  fcirces.  In  transmitting  the  miiscuiar  current  the 

. nerves  perform  the  part  of  inactive  conductors.  It  ,8  not  in 
fe  .the  whole,  or  a large  part  of  a muscle,  that  an  electrical  cur- 
rent  can  alone  he  shown  to  exist,  but  that  every  nu.rticle,  the 


iDorest  or  fragment, _ evorr  what_!i»ay  hr 

luio  V . IB  eg’icvily  obedient  to  eJeetrical 

i'jverv  rnovemoet;  look  or  gcstnre,  every 
I'aii  or  pieuBure,  every  en)otion  however  tranvo-i 
lians  ovf'  V tltought  nhexpressed,  or  word  uttered,  v-. 
ed'v  at  fomitanied  by  tbo  msturhunoe  of  e)eeir..-pu 
TiicBe,  ii'  Avevcr,  are  so  much  more  feeble  rlia<\  any 
wr  have  hitherto  become  acquaiuted,  ihat  in  the  ’ ^ 
roosc  active,  during  a week,  or  perhaps  a moty  •, 
lativa  etfects  may  not  be  equal  to  those  evolved  : j 
Mow  of  the  hand  upon  a table.” 


CO 


.1,'  ,j; 


' 

i I i ' i 

ai\' 

^vil 
: a! 
i;ci 


ii/idcrcd 

ition  of 
,iid  per- 
r'1  assur- 
e ibrees. 
li  which 
I lest  and 
r cumu- 
!<:■  smart 


Much  specnlation  has  been  evoked  and  varinas  ,:pc:’uuents 
at.  different  times  instituted,  to  discover  and  e>q  bv-  * i !k-  cause 
of  the  uniform  normal  heat  of  the  body  of  a heaitby  tViclt  per- 
30U,  hut  heretofore  with  unsatisfactory  results.  hTotvy  it  "jeems 
V - me  that  the  exi'ilanation  is  not  a difficult  one.  .u  ^yul  be 
f=duudod  that  the  relative  capacity  of  the  lungs  -o  farmsh  at- 
mospheric air  to  oxidate  the  hlood_,  and  of  the  bieart  to  supply 
the  proper  quantity  of  blood  to  lie  so  oxidated  in  dio  tiuigs,  is. 
constant  V;;  a healthy  adult.  When,  therefore,  the  lungs  are 
filled  to  their  greatest  capacity,  with  blood  ami  atmosphonc 
air  in  diffusion  through  it,  the  meeting  of  the  imgalme  elec- 
tricity of  the  air  with  the  positive  electricity  of  tae  bnood  in 
the  lungs,  develops  heat  and  magnetism,  and  fho  omdated 
blood  becomes  positively  electrified;  the  carbon  of  the  blood 
unites  with  a portion  of  the  oxygen  of  the  air  in  iiie  .amgs, 
and  becomes  carbonic  acid  gas,  also  positively  eioctrifiect. 
This  change  also  develops  heat  and  magnetism,  having^  been 
produced  by  the  meeting  of  opposite  electricities:  a portion  of 
the  water  of  the  blood,  separated  from  it  during  these  clianges 
is  taken  np  hv  the  carbonic  acid  gas;  and  the  carbonic  acid 
£ras  and  the  oxidated  blood,  both  being  positiv(dy  electrified, 
romd  each  other— the  blood  back  to  the  heart,  to  be  thence 
diff  rihuted  by  the  arteries  through  the  system,  ivhim  the  car- 
bonic acid  gas,  and  the. -watery  vapor  it  contains,  are  expired 
from  the  lungs  through  the  mouth  and  nostrils  into  the  atmos- 
phere. This  repulsion  of  the,  carbonic  acid  gas  and  watery 
vapor  from  the  lungs  is  obvious  to  every  one.  For  who  is 
there  that  can  hold  his.  breath  even  for  a single  moment  t A. 
greater  poiPer  than  man’s  will  forces  them  from  tlie 
that  is  the  repellent  power  of  positive  electricity.  Ihe  oxi- 
dated blood  is  driven  into  the  heart  by  this  same  repellent 


force. ■ 


It  is  the  electrical  action,  therefore,  in  the  lungs  of  the  at- 
mospheric air  and  the  blood  intermingled  in  constant  relative 


113 


^|  iAnatios,  that  produces  the  unilbrm  temperature,  in  all  Ltl  i 
r !3,  of  98°  Fahrenheit  in  a healthy  adujl  person.  , 

Electricity  is  the  cause  of  the  fluidity  of  the  blood  in  th' 
and  arteries.  Venous  blood  taken  fronx  the  veins,  ami 
eft  to  itself  becomes  solid,  and  separates  into  two  distincx 
par.::;  tlie  serum,  or  watery,  being  over  and'  upon  the  clot  or 
o igalum.  The  serum  is  chiefly  water,  holding  albumen  in 
sol*;  iion  and  the  salts  of  the  blood.  The  clot  contains  fibrin 
cokring  matter,  a little  serum  and  a small  quantity  of  salts. 
Pi  k't-  a finger  with  a needle,  a small  drop  of  blood  exudes. 

' It  i ^ negatively  electrified ; on  being  exposed  to  the  air  its  nega- 
tive electricity  instantly  unites  with  the  positively  eleetritr.u  . 
uiv  in  contact,  with  the  warm  surface  of  the  finger,  heat  is 
p-oduecd  by  their  conjunction,  the  watery  part  of  the  scnini 
is.  evaporated ‘by  the  heat  and  the  distributing  electriciiii.s ; 
M.i-d  the  clot  remains  to  cover  the  puncture  made  bv  tlie' 
needle,  and  to  protect  the  blood  in  the  vein  from  further 
injury  by  the  action  of  the  air  upon  it.  How  many  lives  have 
been  saved  after  unconsciousness,  from  the  loss  of  blood,  in 
woixnds,  has  seized  upon  the  sufierer,  l)y  the  escape  of  th; 
svnvn  of  the  blood  through  evaporation  from  electricity,  anu 
hio  deposit  of  the  clot  upon  -the  lips  of  the  wounds,  closing 
toeru  and  preventing  the  further  flow  of  the  blood  throngh 
them,  and  thus  allowing  nature  to  gather  up  its  remaining 
strnngtu,  and  to  restore  the  patient.  How  thankful  we  should 
be  ro  the  Creator  for  this  siiiiplc,  wise  and  benevolent  proA'.i- 
siou  for  our  safety  in  the  occurrence  of  blood-letting  injuries  ! 


A?i,  eminent  surgeon  of  my  acquaintance  has  informed  me  . 
in  cases  of  death’ produced  by  lightning,  the  blood  ro- 
feiaiurA  fluid  in  the  veins  for  several  days  afterxWds-;  whereas. 
gsesB  of  death  from  disease,  tlie  blood  coagulates  soon  aitor- 
ar.l,;.  He  has  known  a ease  in  which  the  blood  remained 
in  the  veins  four  days  and  several  hours  sub.sequent  to* 
i,yi_eath  of  the  man  by  lightning.  This-  ^oos  to  show  that  in 
opco  of_electricity  from  the  blood,  its  flow  in  the  arte- 
Mtid  veins  becomes  retarded,  and  its  coagulation,  or  cx  en 
" ening,  would  suddenly  terminate  the  life  of  an  animal  in 
<ih,it  had  occurred.  This,  no  doubt,  is  the  cause  of  para ; vsi, 
■’idd'vpoplexy.  The  treatment  in  such  cases,  therefore,  shoubi 
■■  ■ th*-  introduction  of  the  opposite  electricity  in  the, veins  ami 
artvriesrto  restore  the  electrical  equilibrium  and  consequem 
the  blood.  ■ 


I have  somewhere  met  with  the  folloAving  anecdote  of  the 
Ut*.  ^*®Qperor  dsicliolas  I,-  f Tfussia,  xvhich,  as  it  is  pertinent  tv* 
;he  ^ csent  discussion,  may  be  introduced  hero.  It  is  as  folio  vs  ■ 


114 


u^b; 

r ar- 


H jiivC:  y.-ars  Buico  a very  tliBtingnisbod  Freneb  actrocn.  b 
r;i  ''■ii"’ciaent  at  tlie  IiTipcvial  Ibeatre  at  Si-  Pot-M  ' ! 

I 'M-iv-od  There  at  tlie^oglrmhig  of  Avintcr.  Sooa  atter  :i  ^ 
rl\  al  in  ^^ompany  with  a gentleman  of  her  party,  slie  proceoueu 
to  t he  grounds  of  the  1V-intcr  Palace  for  walking  ^cxc'-cise. 
Pointer  had  arrived  and  the  ground  was  covcrcu  vat 
Bomc  of  which  had  recently  fallen.  The  air  was  ciilra  and  tne 
weather  very  cold.  • 

In  the  course 'Of  their  walk,  their  attention  was  attracted  by 
fm  appearance  of  a gentleman  of  very  distingund:ei!  vmon, 
who  -vas  also  walking.'  He  was  very  tall  and  renairrcaWy 
handsoi-ne,  and  was  approaching  them  .rapidly;  very  imv-.-h  ira- 
pressed  by  his  appearance  and  manner,  tliey  were  rvy-irding 
hhn  .'crv  fixedly,  when  as  be  came  near  to  tbein  they  s-.lw  him 
take  oft'rrom  hif^hand  a glove,  and  stooping  low^ho_grarped  a 
handf'''l  of  the  light  and  newly  fallen  snow.  T’us  i-.'ralige 
movement  so  fully  occupied  their  attention,  that  they  were 
almost  unaware  of  his  having  reached  W 

before  tlic.lady,  he  very  abruptly  claiiped  liis;han<'  h.c-.il  wp.: , 
snow  non  her  nose,  and  began  to  rub  it  vigorously  at  the 
came  time  saying  to  her  in  French;  “Madame,  yon-  > oso  is 
fimec-’  Her  attendant,  astonnded  by  what  at  first  re  U nught 

was  intended  as  a.grek  indignity  to  the  lady,  war  a..oMy,o  re- 
sent it  when  he  heard  the  explanation  whicli  accomp:.Vi^l  m. 
.The  Emperor  Nicholas;  for  k was  he,  ^^f’lto.ruo  hn..ry 
nr, 30  and  hice  of  the  lady  with  his  hand  filkd  wndi  sno-r  to  re- 
store, by  h’iction,  the  proper; circulation  of  the  blovu  end  thus 
prevent  the  great  injury  to  the  lady’s  face  whnhi  the  luss  O' 
her  nose  would  occasion.  lie  spoke  encouragingly  to  a-n’,  aiii... 
calhng  an  attendant  he  sent  for  his  surgeon,  and  atten  mo  cir- 
culation of  the  blood  in  ber  face  was  rc-cstabiished,  she  wa^  re- 
turne;l  to  her  apai’tments,  wliere  she  received  e’  on  ati-ntiou; 
■bv  the  Emperor’s  orders,  and'in  a little  while  she  was-  oplirely 


restored 


VXVJ.  w . 

Iow,'.why  did  the  Emperor  rub  her  nose 


....  1 face 
is  iiand 


with  snow ; and  why  did  he  take  off-  ms  glove  fnmi 
ta  perform  that  office  ? 

It  has  been  long  known,  that  frozen  limbs  can  be  restored 
to  tliCir  normal  condition  .of  healthy  vigour  by  the  applicatioii 
of  snow  or  pounded  ice  to  the  part^  aflected,  when  quickly 
rubbed  with  the  human  hand ; but  it  is  not  so  well  knov  n why 
such  an  effect  is  thus  produced.  Let  us  essay  an  explanation 
of  it  When  a limb,  or  member  is  frozen, _ the  carcuiation  of 
the  i)lood  in  it  ceases,  and  the  life  of  the  Imib  or  niem^ier  is 
suspended;  and  unless  its  healthy  action  is  speedily  rcsiored. 


fill  I >.J  I *111'/  i^v|^PW>^'i'^i||,iPiJimMi9WUI^ 


tlio  part  -afFectcd  loses  its  vitality,  gangrene  sets  in,  and  ampu- 
tation becomes  necessarjn  The  .animal  electricity  tlmt  it  con- 
tained has  disappeared.  I^ow,  the  human  hand  has  one  kind 
of  electricity;  snow  or  ice  has  the  opposite  kind  of  electricity. 
When  these  opposing  electricities  are  brought  together  in  con 
tact  by  frictiop,  as  they  were  in  this  instance,  heat  and  mag- 
netism were  evolved,  wliich  Imat  warmed  and  expanded  the 
i’rozen  nose,  and  associated  with  the  magnetism  that  had  been 
developed,  excited  air  electrical  current  in  the  coagulated 
l.)lood.  in  the  veins  of  the  nose  and  face,  which  then  began  to 
How  in  its  natural  course.  When  this  friction  is  thus  con- 
tinued for  a sufficient  time,  the  health  of  the  limb  or  member 
is  restored,  Now  if  heat  from  combustion  had  been  applied 
in  tins  case,  instead  of  heat  from  electricity  evolved  by  fric-. 
tion,  as  above  described,  it  would  have  resulted  in  the  morti- 
fication and  loss  of  the  lady’s  nose. 

It  has  been  abundantly  shown,  by  experiments  made  by 
distinguished  scientists,  that,  under  the  iniluence  of  weak  cur- 
rents of  electricity,  salts  can  be  resolved  into  their  component 
elements.  In  this  way  a compound  can  bo  separated  into  its 
constituent  acid  and  base.  It  has  also  been  shown,  by  Becquercl, 
that  if  an  acid  and  alkaline  solution  be  so  placed  that  their 
union  is  effected  through  the  parietes  of  an  animal  membrane, 
or,  indeed,  of  an}^  other  porous  diaphragm,  a current  of  elec- 
tricity is  evolved.  This  has  been  found  to  be  true  with  all 
acids  and  soluble  bases.  Now,  Dr.  Golding  Bird  asserts,  that 
with  the  exception  of  the  stoniach  and  ccecum,  the  whole 
extent  of  the  mucous  membrane,  is  bathed  with  an  alkaline 
mucous  fluid,  and  the  external  covering  of  the.  body  is  as  con- 
stantly exhaling  an  acid  fluid,  except  in  the  axillary  and 
pubic  regions.  The  mass  of  the  animal  frame  is  thus  placed 
between  two  great  envelopes,  the  one  alkaline  and  the  other 
acid,  meeting  only  at  the  mouth,  nostrils  and  anus.  Donne, 
has  'shown  that  this  arrangement  is  cjuite  competent  to  the 
evolution  of  electricity.  ■ ’ 

. The  blood  in  a healthy  state,  exerts  a well  marked  alkaline 
action  on  test  paper — but  a piece  of  muscular  flesh  containing 
a large  proportion  of  alkaline  blood,  wdien  it  is  cut.  into 
small  pieces  and  digested  in  water,  the  infusion  thus  ob- 
tained is  actually  acid  to  litmus  paper.  This  curious  circum- 
stance is  explained  by  the  fact  announced  by  Liebig,  that, 
although  the  blood  in  ■ the  vessels  of  the  muscle  is  alkaline 
from  the  tribasic  phosphate  of  soda,  yet  the  proper  fluids  or 
I secretions  of  the  ■ tissues  exterior  to  the  capillaries  are  acid 


ns 


from  the  presence  of  free  phosphoric  and  lactic  acids.  Thus 
in  rvciy  mass  of  muscle,  we  have  myriads  of  electric  currents, 
arising  from  tlie  mutual  reaction  of  an  acid  fluid  exterior  to 
the  vessels  or  their  alkaline  contents.  It  is  thus  very  remark- 
able, that  a muscle  should  be  an  electrogenlc  ap'paratus,  and 

■ that  we  should  have  two  sources  of  the  clegtricity  of  the 
muscles — the  eJEFccts  of  metanuvphoses  of  eflhte  fibres’ on  the 
one  hand,  and  on  the  other  the  mutual  reaction  of  two  fluids 
in  different  chemical  conditions.  The  agency  of  a muscle 
iugenerating  electricity  can  no  longer  bo  denied. 

In  the  course  of  twenty-four  hours  a considex'able  propor- 
tion of  watery  vapour  exhales  from,  the  surface  of  the  body. 
This  has  been  differently  estimated,  and  is  liable  to  great  va- 
riations— but  from  30  to  48  ounces  of  water  may_  thus  bo  got 
rid  of  from  the  system;  The  evaporation  of  this  amount  of 
fluid  is  sufScient.  to  disturb  the  electric  equilibrium  of  the 
body,  and  to  evolve  electricity  of  much,  higher  tension  than 
that  set  free  by  chemical  action.  This  evaporation  may  proba- 
bly account  for  the  traces  of  free  electricity  generally  to  be  _de- 
tected*m  the  body,  by  merely  insulating  a person  and  placing 
him  in  contact  with  a condensing  electrometer.  Pfaft’  and 
Ahrens  generally  foupd  the  electricity  of  the  body  thus  ex- 
amined to  bo  positive,  especially  when  the  circulation  had 
been  excited  by  partaking  of  alcoholic  stimulants.  Ilepmler, 
another  observer,  found  that  in  2422  experiments  on  himself, 
his  body  was  positively  electric  in  1252,  negative  in  771,  and 
neutral  in  399.  The  causes  pf  the  variations  in  the  character 
of  the  electric  conditions  of  the  body,  admit  of  ready  ex- 
planations in  the  varying  composition  of  the  perspired  flxiid. 
P'  'r  if  it  contains,  as  it  generally  does,  some  tree  acid,  it,  by 
its  evaporation,  would  leave  the  body  positively^  electric; 
whilst  if  it  merely  contains  neutral  salt,  it  would  induce  an 
opposite  condition.  The  accuracy  of  these  statements  can  bo 
.ea-sily  verified  by  ?neans  of  the  electrometer.” 

o It  is  an  established  fact  that,  independently  of  combustion, 
chemical  action. or  evaporation,  the  mere  contact  of  heteroge- 
neous organic  rnatters  is  competent  to  disturb  electric  equi- 
librium.” 

AVhatever  may  be  the  influence  of  electricity  as  an  agent 
in  exciting  the  function  of  digestion,'  it  is  now  pretty  distinctly 
. .made  out  that  the  function  of  digestion. in  the  stomach  is  an 
action  allied  to  simple  solution,  of  which  water — a'  proper 
temperature,  [always  associated  with  eleeti-icity] — and  a free 
acid,  the  hydrochloric,  phosphoric,  or  both,  are'  the  active 


117 


audits.  TT^e  possess  sufficient  evidence  to  induce  us  to  resrard 
a current  of  electricity  as  tlie  means  by  Avhich  the  saline  'con- 
stituents of  the  food  ‘are  decomposed,  and  their  constituent 
acids,  the  real  agents  in  digestion,  set  free  in  the  stomach,  the 
soda  of  the  decomposed  salts  being  convej'ed  to  the  liver  to 
aid  the  metamorphosis  and  depuration  of  the  portal  blood,  and 
cause  the  separation  of  matter  rich  in  carbon  in  the  form  of  a 
saline  combination  in  the  bile.  • It  also  appears,  from  various 
expteriments,  that  in  all  cases  the  secreted  matters  are  ahvavs 
in  an  opposite  electric  condition  .from  that  of  the  blood  from 
which  they  were  generated.” 

Chemical  action  is  merely  a synonj-m  for  electrical  action, 
hence  in  all  tlie  functions  of  the  animal  body  from  its  birth 
till  its  dissolution,  we  may  observe  the  influence  of  electrical 
currents,  the  development  of  magnetism  by  the  conjunction  of 
them,  oppositely  electrified,  and  the  production  of  heat.  In 
the  first  inspiration  of  atmospheric  air  into  the  lungs  where 
it  encounters  the  blood  oppositely  electrified,  lleat  and 
■ raagnctism.are  evolved,  and  the  purified  blood  has  one'  elec- 
tricity which  .repels  itself  into  the  heart,  and  thence  *v  the 
arteries  through  the  system.  When  it  reaches  the  capillaries 
it  has  lost  more  than  two  degrees  of  its  temperature,  and  being 
forced  through  the  capillaries  into, the  veins  as  well  by  the 
repulsion  of  the  electricity  of  the  arterial  blood,  as  attracted  by 
the  opposite  electricity  of  the  veins  and  the  blood  they  contain, 
die  temperature  is  increased  till  it  reaches  98°  of  Fahrenheit’ 
which  it  carries  -with  it  to  the  heart. 

Muscular  exercise  actively  employed  by  the  contraction  and 
expansion  of  the  muscles,  and  by  their  'friction  among  them- 
selves, develops  large  quantities  of  electricity,  which  requires 
a corresponding  quantity  of  the  opposite  elckricity  of  the  air 
•to  neutralize  it,  hence  the  inspiration  of  atmospheric  air  into 
the  lungs  becomes  more  rapid  in  proportion  to  the  activity  of 
the  exercise,  great  heat  is  developed  in. the  body  by' the  con- 
junction of  the.se  opposite  -electricities,  which  expanding  all 
the  tjssues  of  the  body’,  liberates  the  water  contained  in  them 
and  in  tiic  viscera  by  exos  mosis,  which  then  exudes  throngh 
the  pores  of  the  skin,  as  perspiration,  carrying  off  the  surplus 
e|ectrieity  that  has  been  produced  by  the  violence  of  the  exer- 
cise, and  relieving  the  body  from  the  further  inconvenience  of 
its  increased  heat.  This  perspiration  is  acid  in  some  parts  of 
the  body  and  alkaline  in  other  p>arts,  and. furnishes  the  most 
iramodiate  means  of  getting  rid  of  the  excessive,  free  currents 
of  electricity  of  the  body  , at  all  times. 


IIS 


Dui'lr.g  an  attack  of  fever,  vliilo  the  patient  is  sufiering 
from  tlie  great  interior  lieat  of  his  body  from  disturbed  elec- 
trical action,  why  does  lie  continually  ask  for  cold  water  ? It 
is  because  the  cold  Avatcr,  oppositely  electrified  to  the  over- 
heated organs  and  viscera  of  his  body,  is  demanded  by  the 
instinct  of  his  nature,  which  requires  it,  so  that  the  increased 
heat  developed. by  the  conjunction  of  these  opposite  electrici- 
ties rr;ay  still more  expand  the  tissues  and  viscera  and  liberate 
the  water  therefrom  which,  mixed  with  the  water  drank, 
would  carry  otf  in  perspiration  the  excess  of  electricity  and 
restore  the  body  to  its  normal  condiiion.  For  this  ycasop, 
cold  water  in  largo  quantities  should  always  be  prescribed  in 
cases  of  fever,  to  carry  off  the  surplus  electricity,  by  the 
perspiration  it  induces,  as  Avell  as  to  supply  the  material  for 
the  very  perspiration  that  it  is  intended  it  should  produce. 
Warm  saline  or  acid  baths,  by  expanding  the  pores  of  the 
skin,  and  thus  promoting  perspiration,  are  natural  remedies 
in  cases  of  fever  or  of  violent  inflammation.  Perspiration, 
therefore,  alkaline  or  acid,  is  the  remedy  for  excessive  elec- 
trization— and  just  as  the  perspiration  is  either  alkaline  or 
acid,  in  those  places  of  the  body  where  in  its  natural  state  it 
should  be  the  reverse,  ought  the  X'hysician  to  be  able  to  diag- 
nose the  causes  of  this  abnormal  condition,  and  to  restore  the 
electrical  equilibriuiu  in  the  system. 

The  sexes  are  oppositely  electrified— -hence  their  mutual  at- 
traction for  each  other.  Fowgive  them  the  s;n  iv;  clectrieitiLS,- 
and  runtuai  reqmlsion  immediately  results.  Let  us  ponder 
avs'hi’o  oil  this  subject.  Every  one  must  have  observed  iu  the 
prers  of  this  country,  alrn(i.st  daily,  and  iu  every  jaart  ot  it,^ 
acemauts  of  the  most  outrageous,  cruel,  and  in  some  ca.sos  ot 
diabolical  attacks  of  men  upon  woinen,  and  occasionally,  of 
women  uxion  men,  generally  wl len  they  bore  toward  caeli 
other  the  relation  of  husban'd  and  ivifo.  V\^ben  they  have  been 
first  acquainted  with,  each  other,  their  electricities  being  oiq>o- 
sitc,  they  were  mutually  attractctl  to  each  other,  their  acquaint- 
ance grew  into  esteem,  and  ripened  into  affection  and  love, 
and  they  became  man  and  wife.  The  animal  systeni  develops 
electricity,  magnetism  and  heat  in  its  functional  aefions— the 
kind  of  electricitv  and  magnetism  are ' dependent  upon-- the ' 
habits  of  life,  the  diet,  the  occupation  and  association  of  the  indi 
vidnal.  'When  these  are  similar  similar  electric  and  magnetic 
conditions  of  the  liody  will  result.  It  has  been  shown  that  the 
ne»-ative  or  masculine  electricity  of  the  man  is.  reversed,  ami 
becomes  positive  like  that  of  the  woman  under  the  excitement 
of  alcoholic  stimulants— in  other  words,  for  the  time  being, 


119 


the  TTifi.r  l>r-eomos  a woman,  and  is  converted  into  the  onl  >" 
thing  wi  h lx  the  British  Parlianie'nt,  in  all  its  great  potentialitv, 
could  not  do,  viz ; make  a man  a woman,  .or  a woman  a nia::. 
This,  alcoholic  stimulants  have  always  done,  and  are  now  doin'.; 
ever}’  1 ry.  dTien  this  change  in  the  condition  of  his  electricity 
has  :-'r'‘iTed,  his  attributes  become  feminine;  he  is  irritable, 
irrationa',  excitable  by.  trivialities,  and  when  opposed  in  hi:) 
opin'  n; 8 or  conduct,  becomes  violent  and  o'ulrageous,  and  if, 

■ in  thi ; n,  ;.;>d,  he  meets  his  .wife,  whose  normal  condition  of 
electri'.ily  is  like  his  present  condition, 'positive,  they  repel 
each  >.  ‘d':  r,  become  mutually  abusive,  engage  in'  conflict  and 
deadly  ; i rii-b  and  tbe  newspaper  of  tbe  next  day  announces  tho- 
verdi  : -.  c - tiw  coroner’s  jury  on  the  case  How  many  such,  in- 
ly cidcio  c are  occurring  dai  ly  in  almost  eveiy  part  of  our  extended 
country  - and  wbo  would  expect  to  find  tbe  discover}"  of- the 
moving  cause,  of  all,  tbesc  terrible  crimes  in  the  persiflration  of 
. the  c’ir..iiuari,  and  yet  science  has  shown  that,  the  metamor- 
phosis of  a tvian  into  a Woman  by  changing  the  negative  coh- 
ditioii  of  his  electricity  into  the  positive  clcctricrity  of  the 
women,  witli.  all  its  attributes,  is  disclosed  by  the  character  of 
his  superinduced  by  the  use  of  alcoholic  stimu- 

iaiits  ’ .Xt  is  a very  curious  thing  to  note,  that  among  the  Per- 
sians, mcjlkthc  most  ancient  of  peoples,  the  ordinary  saluta- 
i.iou  cr  ' bo  meeting  of  friends,  is,  not  as  among  the  English, 

■ H-v.:  ? o you  -bo  ? ” as  if  your. life  was  one  of  incessant  labor, 
or  as  i-wong  tf>e  Prencb,.‘‘  Comment  vous  portez-vous  ?”  How 
do  y carry  yourself?  ” as  if  it  wws  a.  great  exertion  to  move 
at  ab — i,ui:  'Ebow  do  you  perspire?  ” In  the  lapse  of  ages,  :i 
:vst  O'-  i of  knowledge  useful  to  a people,  is  neoessarih-  ac- 
re ynired-fy  iboir  experience,  personal  as  well- as  nation  a.!,  jn 

dm  hoi:  and  arid  climate  of  Persia,  the  people  sufler,  and  bavo 

■ aPwv  ■ sufibred,  greatly  from  tbyers,  eruptive  disease;:  of  iho 
skiU;  as  we!i  as  from  those  of  a dysenteric  and  choleraic  char- 

fl,  acter.  Their  experieuco  has  taught  them,  in  . their  dhioases, 
that  rfc  frst  relief  from  sufiering  that  they  felt,  was  h--  the  re- 
turn of  their  perspiration  to  their  skin,  and  as  long  as  ihat 
perspir-ation  .could  bo  maintained,  just  so  long  was  tlicir  relit f 
’ continued—pb cr.ee  they  came  to  regard  it  as  synonymous  with 
a state  of  g'.iod  health,  and  the  salutation  among  friends  on 
meeting  was  inti’oduced  and  became  common  among  the 
b people.  , 

Lot  no  woman,  hereafter,  delude  herself  with  the  idea  that 
* she  cab  rotf.rm  a man  addicted  to  the  use  of  alcoholic,  stimu- 
lantr.  by  marriage.  Should  she  attempt  it,  she  will  fall  a 
victim  to  bie  deiusion,  as  many  of  her  sex  have  done  before 


120 


' or,  as  f lio  willlind  that  her  wiil  is  controlled  by  her  r:  r.pr-n' 
■lositive  oleclricity,  wliich  is  of*  the  same  character  iis  tliat  bt  the 
lann,  her  husbancl,  and  that,  in  spite  of  herself,  the  two  w’U  e- 
nintually  repellent,  and  their  association  as  man  and  wife  will 
he  utihappy  in  the  extreme. 

Observe  a drnnken  man  with  a male  companion  wlio  is 
sober;  their  electricities  are  opposite  ; how  loving  the  drnnken 
' man  is  tb  his  friend ; he  caresses  him;  locks  his  arm  in  that' 
of  his  companion ; hugs  him ; in  France  he  would  klsr  him; 
jirattle.to  him-  with  the  simplicity  of  a child;  talks  iK  .wcnse 
yrith  the  incoherence  of  dclirinm ; and  is  as  good  hui-norc'- 
raid  amiable  as  possible.  Ilis.  wife  appears  on  the  scenr  ■ his 
nianncr  changes  instantly;  she  tells  him  he  is  wanted  atimnn:; 
and  asks  him  to.  accompany  her  there  ; ‘he  replies,  “ yon  go  tz 
yn  ass,  don’t  you  see  I am  with  George,”  naming  his  con  pauion. 
The  wife  urges  him  to  go  home,  and  not  expose  himself  in  nie 
- public  streets  in  his  bo'ndition.  He  is  ■ exasperated ; tlio^o  re- 
pellent electricities  are  in  action;  they  become  angry;  vio- 
lence probably  ensues,  and  the  police  interfere.  Let  no  woman 
ever  venture  to  remonstrate  wdth  a drunken  nian  ; her  own 
electrical  condition  forbids  it ; such  remonstrance  irritates  the 
man,  develops  bis  anger,  and  leads  to  violence ; and  whm  it 
is  remembered  that  woken  arc  particularly  the  objects  of  bratal 
r.ttack  by  drunken  men,  as  is  made  manifest  by  the  pul;!"  cation 
in  the  daily  press  of  the  country,  of  crimes  that  have  been 
committed,  it  is  obvious  that  their  safety  will  be  jprometed  by 
their  silence.  . ■ 

The  remarkable  variations  in  bis  own  electrical  condition, 

■ reported  bv  the  observer,  Ilcmmcr,  as' deduced  fromjns  e^xTcri- 
ments  upon  bis  own  body,  go  to  show  that  every  iiKudouj  in 
• human  life  might  be  trace'd  to  its  electrical  condition  ; all  the 
passions  are  excited  by  it,  and  are  skhdued  by  its  reversal:  all 
tlie  emotions  are  necessary  consequences  of  it,  and  it  not 
probably  going  too  far  to  say  that  the  intellectuality  of  man  is 

largely 'due  to'his  electricity  and  maghetism. 

■ We  have  thus  shown  that  from  the  impi;egnation  of  the  ovum 
of  the  warm-blooded  animal,  through  its  whole  existence,  clcc- 
tricitv,  maqmctism,  and  heat,  arc  the  essential,  elements^  of  its 
vitality;  and  that  starting  from  the  first  man,  Adam,  it,. was 
not  until  the  Creator  had  “ breathed  into  his  face  the  breath 
w f life;”  or,  as  We.  interpret  it,  had  brought  together  the  atmos- 
ikeric  air  and  the  blood  in  bis  luipgs,  oppositely  electrified, 
I'V  breathing  that  atmospheric  air  into  bis  face,  t rough  his 
uioutb,  nostrils,  and  eyes,  and  thus  bringing  it  into  contact 


121 


vfitli  the  oppositely  electrified  blood,  that  life  in  Adam  ^<"3 
cstabh - lied,  and  the  law  of  life  made  universal  for  all  li‘ 
descendanta. 

It  is  curious  to  observe  tbe  marvelous  provisions  ma^ie  by 
tbe  Jreator  to  relieve  tbe  human  animal  from  the  ex.  oss  of 
elcciric-al  action  in  his  system  from  whatever  cause.  The  bral 
being  tbe  most  important  of  the  organs,  and  contained  in  a 
bony  structure  called  the  cranium,  or  skull,  composed  of  severed 
par:s  united  bj"  serrated  edges,  and  subject  to  a certain  degree 
of  mobility  at  those  edges,  to  protect  the  skull  from  fracture 
by  t)  i ial,  accidental  blows,  or  pressure,  is  the  first  organ  lo  h-i 
relic.'cd  from  increased  heat  in  the  blood  v:hich  circulates 
there.-  Perspiration  first  breaks  out  on  the  forehead,  r cur  tbe 
temples;  then  at  the  uppermost  suture,  or  serrated  edge,  =>n 
the  top  of  the  skull ; then  along  the  temples  ; then  behh-d  - he 
cars,  i;o  relieve  the  cerebellum  and  the  organs  of  hearing;  th  en 
abo>  o and  below  the  eyes,  for  the  relief  of  those  orga'is;  tb  m- 
along  the  nose  and  corners  of  the  mouth ; then  under  t ae  jbie  o 
to  re'^eye  the  glands  of  the  mouth  and  throat;  the  ihornx,  ur 
chest,  where  the  greatest  activity  of  the  circulation  of  the 
bloi;  ■ occurs,  is  relieved  by  the  perspiratior-  in  the  armpi'-Sr 
unde,  the  shoulders;  while  the  abdominal  region  is  protected 
by  iivi  exudation  in  the  loins  and  groins,  and  the  pelvis  and 
Lips  have  their  guardian  in  tbe  pubic  region;  the  u->per  log  io 
the  angle  behind  the  knee,  w’heii  it  is  bent ; the  lowc-  log  and 
foot  find  their  security  in  the  perspiration  that  exudes  bet\veen 
tbe  toes,  as  the  lower  arm  and  hand  are  protected  by  it,  -'is  it 
escapes  between  the  fingers  and  in  the  palm  of  the  hand — ^^ail 
these  sal  utary  provisions  are  independent  of  the  wfill  of  the 
indi  ^'idual,  and  are  so  many  safety  valves  for  his  preservation 
from  ivjjury,  in  too  many  cases,  from  his  own  in^rudcnce  an 
folly.  . 

It  is  to  the  female  of  ever}'  species  that  the  Creator  ha.: 
conib.-ou  the  care  and  perservation  of  the  young  anin'vl,  n.a 
well  as  the  continuance  of  the  species  to  wlricli  she  m \v  be- 
long. ~We  all  know  how  pow'erful  is  the  emotion  of  matorna' 
instinct ; it  needs  no  illustration. 

Am*!iig  all  animals'but  man  the  season  of  reprod'icrio;-;  ir 
deper,f:ent  upon  climatic  infiucnces— upon  the  temperature  of 
the  season,  w'hcn  the  young  animal  is  to  he  ushered  into  li  fo, 
and  ;m  the  products  of  the  earth  necessary  for  the  nn-thrr’ 
during  the  period  of  its  dependence  upon  her  for  sustenancin 
as  well  as  for  its  owm  support  afterwards. 

W e will  illustrate  by  a common  example. . We  will  suppose 


122 


• l il  season  for  rcproclnetion  with  the  domestic  c^.c  has 
'veil:  Kpe  is  at  pastime,  and  unconscious  of  the  clianicc  in 
i.er  CL'ftilition  which  is  about  to  happen.  Suddenly,  there 
yins  to  he  given  out  from  her  body  a strong  effluvium — it 
e ii  roucs'ls  her  and  accompanies  her  in  evcrymiove.ment.  It 
fills  the  atmosphere  near  her — ^ivafted  by  the  wind  it  is  ( arried 
t a great  distance.  A mile  or  more  to  the  leeward  the 
< . \v,  a bull  is  feeding  among  a hundred  cows,  in  tl;e  pricturo 
field;  grazing  quietly  he  is  observed  to  turn  his  head  towards 
t‘je  direction  from  which  the  wind  is  coming.  It  marlcs  tho 
fret  approach  of  the  effluvium;  he  turns  qnickl/  around 
towards  the' wind,  raises  his  head  high  above  hi--  fody  and 
drav's  a long  inspiration  of  air.  lie  recognizes  the  tVagi  ance, 
it  is  to  Idrn  an  invitation.  He  sets  out  in  a rapid  walk  in  the 
direction  from  which  tho  wind  is  coming;  then  he  quickens 
bis  pace  into  a fast  trot,  and,  as  the  welcome  perfume  incrcasos 
in  strengtli,  he  breaks  into  a gallop,  and  then  into  a fidl 
A rbneo,  a barrier,  intervenes ; raising  liimscU'  on  liis 
l.biid  IjcoIs  ho  throws  bis  forehand  on  the  fence  and  breaks  it 
ic  the  groin  id.  Eenewing  bis  speed  bo  arrives  in  the  iicld  in 
wliieh  Ibo  cow  ds  quietly  grazing — among  a tbousatid  cows. 
Ho  follows  the  fragrance  directly  to  the  object  of  hi:-  visit. 
How,  V'hat  docs  this  ba^te  mean?  "Why  docs  be  loavdii ' own 
Tomtui-c,  a mile  or  more  away,  to  rush  with  such  sf  cod  to 
(vriie  ■ fKlds  ? Tlccausc  a new  life  is  to  be  developed,  and  the 
muis;  >ci-co]e  elements  of  it  are  heat,  electricity  iuiu  mag- 
uetdr  u The  exercise  of  his  muscles  in  running  has  prodncecl 
tVktion,  .fdetion  has  developed  electricity,  positive,  ivldcli  de- 
rnouds  negative  electricity  from  increased  inspiration  of  the- 
atiric-sjhere.  His  imagination  has  been  excited  by  trie  pun- 
gcncT  of  the -grateful  aroma  he. has  breathed,  lie  arrives'  at 
ti:G  co-=v,  dra."s  u long  inspiration,  licks  heron  the  iicckwith 
],.$  rough.  f.»ugue,  and  upon  her  loins,  and  makes  an  ofFort,  as 
b upitcr  is  said  I o have  done  to  Europa,  after  crossing  the  Bos- 
phorus. The  cow  recedes  from  him,  and  he  is  disc  pixuiitcd — 
sb.'  is  p.ot  ready.  Again  and  again -he  proffers  his  divotion — 
Ft’ll  rqicetcd.  "The  cow,  in  tlie  meantime,  recedes  from  him  a 
: paces,  aiid\hegins  again  to  graze.  ^ Every  momeut,  how- 
ever, her  maturity  of  passion  is  approaching,  the  circulation 
of  her  blood  increases,  stimulated  by  his  proximity  a ad  the 
oxlour  given  out  from  his  body.  Heat  and  electricity  iu  her 
V»ody  aro  developed  by  a quickened  circulation,  and  when  tho 
instinct  of  her  aiatiire  has  been  fully  aroused  she  coinmuui- 
cates  to  him,  iu  a mysterious  way,  her  readiness  to  receive,  iu 


ii'O  *angTiagG  of  the  Latin  poet,  “ taurum  ruf.ntetn  in 
ilic  eleinents  of  life  are  there,  cl cctricitT,  magnetism  ancL  -icat, 
and  at  the  end  of  the  period'of  gestation,  a new  life  is  added 
to  tlie  herd.  . 

Among  birds  and  ponltr}',  the  requisites  for  reprednetion 
are  similar.  In  the  poultry  yard  observe  the  gallant  cock. 
Scriitchingon  the  ground  he  finds  a grain  of  corn,  br.potdianco 
an  insect;  he  gives  a chuckle  and  one  of  his  hens  api>roarhc-3 
to  receive  it.  She  picks  it  u]\  and  comprehend:' ’n  the 
generous  motive  of  the  gallant  bird,  she  starts  off  in  s’  r^m  to 
enjoy  the  gift.  The  cock  piu'sues,  and  after  a si— y and 
quick  race,  in  Avhich  friction,  electricity,  heat  and  mn  o',  q.siu 
are  developed  in  each  of  them,  slic  .suddenly  stops,  an  en'to-a'-.o 
follows,  and  an  egg  .is  impregnated,  which  in  due  tirue-  is 
hatciicd  into  a chicken. 

SoTnetimes,  the  cock  pretending  to  have  found  some  choice 
niorsel  when  in  fact  he  has  not,  calls  a hen,  who  on  aj-oroac*;- 
ing  him  discovers  the  cheat  and  starts  from  him  on  a rnn  to 
be  purlued  by  him  as  before,  and  with  precisc’y  a -bnilar 
rysnlt  to  the  last  mentioned.  So  that  to  be  a gay  docif  ■,  cr  of 
■the  female  is  not  confined  to  base  man. 

■ In  the  reproduction  of  all  the  varieties  of  animal  life  from 
the  enormous  whale  to  the  firefly,  wldoli  in  the  Icvguage  of 
Tola  Moore,  ‘Mights  her  mate  to  her  cell.”  and  frondi*:  f b the 
tiniest  insect,  the  like  conduct  prevails^  viz':  theexerei:  v i f the 
rriu-'  Ics  producing  friction,  and  evolving  clcctriei  fy,  magr;etism 
and  heat,  to  vitalize  the  ovum  in  its  impregnation. 

The  whale  requires  three-quarters  of  an  hour  to  be  • -sod 
in  sportive  dalliance  around  his  mate,  before  a su".  ient 
degree  of  electricity,  magnetism  and  heat  can  be  attu  . ,d  to 
impregnate  the  ovum  of  the  female. 

I have  been  credibly  informed  by  a very  intelligent  man, 
wiio  was  for  many  years  ‘ engaged  in  the  whale  ti.sher;-  ::c  tlie 
Southern  Pacific  ocean  and  Australian  seas,  that  while  cruis- 
ing for  whales  off  the  coast  of  Australia  the  boats  of  Lis  ship 
pursued  and  captured  a large  sperm  whale  that  made  :*0  bar- 
rels of  oil.  That  when  first  struck  with  the  harpoon  lie  went 
down  with  great  velocity,  carrying  with  him  an  immense 
length  of  line,  and  that  befoVe  he  arose  again  to  the  suj-face 
“ to  blow  ” one  hoxir  and  iioenty-three  minutes  by  the  shijr  --  chro- 
nometer had  elapsed,  which  fact  proves  that  it  is  not  iiecessury 


124 


for  a Tvhale  to  come  to  the  surface  of  the  water  at  ^hovr 
iutervals  of  time  to  breathe,  as  naturalists  suppose,  ti.- 
from  the  lapse . of  time  mentioned  while  he  was  under 
the  water  he  evidently  had  supplied  himself  with  atmos- 
pheric air  for  breathing  purposes  from  the  water,  as  it  was 
impossible  that  any  pair  of  lungs  could  have  inhaled  and  re- 
tained sufficient  air  before  he  went  down  to  sustain  him  for 
60  long  a time  under  water.  The  true  explanation;  probably 
is,  that  the  whale  came  to  the  surface  to  blow  off,  with  his  car- 
bonic acid  gas  and  watery  vapour  from  his  lungs,  the 
Bur[du8  electricity  that  liad  been  evolved  in  his  system  by  the 
imiuense  muscular  action  he  had  displayed  in  his  descent 
from,  and  subsequent  ascent  to  the  surface,  as  ' by  no  other 
method  could  he  have  gotten  rid  of  it. 

Among  terrestrial  animals  nothing  is  more  common  during 
the  beats,  of  summer,' wheii  so  much  electricity  is  evolved 
will  tin  them  by  their  inspiration  of  air,  the  circulation  of  tlieir 
"blood,  their  digestion,  secretions  and  muscular  action,  than  b:. 
see  them  in  herds  standing  in  Avater  up  to  or  aboA^e  their 
knees  to  relieve  themselves  of  their  surplus  electricity  by  the 
conducting  power  of  the  AAmter  and  thus  to  cool  their  bodies, 
whose  heat  must  ascend  into  the  air,  and  could  not  be  con- 
ducied  to  the  earth  Avhili^  their  electricity  could,  by  the  AA^ater 
in  Avlnch  they  stood,  be  rapidly  conducted  from  their  bodies 
to  the  earth. 

Such  is  likcAvisc  the  cause  of  the  habit  of  AvalloAving  in 
muddy  Avater  of  all  the  pachydermata,  tfora  the  mammotu 
through  the  elephant,  rhinoceros,  down  to  the  common  pig. 

All  fatty  or  oleaginous  substances  being  anti-frictional,  as  is 
illusi  rated  in  every  day  life  in  the  .axles  of  our  vehicles  and  in 
machinery  having*^  any  rotating  associations,  prevent  the  ca’-oIu- 
.tion  of  electricity,  aiid  consecpiently  of  he, at.  Hence  soino 
extraordinaxy  faks  -appear  in  the  animal  economy.'  It  is 
known  that  the  Avhale,  one  of  the  A^arieties  of  the  cetacea, 
nurses  its  young  from  its  teats,  AAdiieh  arc  external  on  its  body. 
It  is  therefore  classed,  by  naturalists,  Avith  the  mammalia,  to 
which  the  human  species  belongs.  The  Avhalc  inspires  atmos- 
pheric air,  Avhen  floating  on  the  surface  of  the  Avatcr,  and  also 
abstracts  it  from  the  Avater  itself  AAdien  swimming  beneath  its 
surface.  The  Avhalcs  are  Avarm  blooded,  and  the  conjunction 
of  the  negative  electricity  of  the  atmospheric  air  they  have 
.inspired,  with  the  positive  electricity  of  their  blood,  produces 
heat.  This  heat  and  the  accompanying  electricity,  Avhich  is 


125 


d.'ri‘/ed  from  tlie  friction  of  their  blood  in  circulation,  and  of 
tiu;ir  muscles  in  exercise  while  in  motion,  would  all  he  rapidly 
V inducted  from  their  bodies  by  the  water  of  a loAver  tempera- 
L-'i’e,  ill  which  it  moves  and  lives,  but  for  the  great  thickness 
of  the  blubber  or  fit  Avhich  encompasses  them  respectively, 
and  the  immense  quantity  of  oil  contained  in  their  skulls,  that 
arc-  non-conductors  of  electricity,  and  serve  to  insulate  it  as  it 
is  ovoh^ed.  How  then,  in  the  rapid  passage  of  a whale 
t:  rough  the  Avater,-is  the  enormous  quantity  of  electricity 
evolved  by  the  friction  of  its  organs,  muscles  and  blocl,  in 
t’'.eir  respective  motions,  to  be  got  I’id  of  since  it  cannot  • cape 
frma  its  body  on  account  of  the  non-conducting  power  of  die 
robe  of  blubber  which  encloses  it  ? The  whale,  in  breathhig, 
takes  in  a large  quantity  of  Avater  containing  atmosphee'e  air, 
Avhieh  air,  having  one  electricitj^,  is  received  into  its  respira- 
tory system,  where  it  meets  AAuth  the  blood  oppositely  electri- 
fied. This  blood  it  oxygenates,  and  by  the  positive  electricity 
of  its  lungs  and  heart,  this  blood,  similarly  electrified,  is 
drh'cn  Jhrough  the  arteries,  to  carry  to  every,  organ  of  its  body 
its  renoAmting  and  vitalizing  material.  Changing  the  character 
of  its  electi’icity  by  induction  as  it  -.passes  into  the  veins, 
through  the  capillaries,  it  is  taken  back  to  the  heart  and 
thence  to  the  lungs  by  the  attraction  of  the  positive  electricity 
of  those  organs,  to  maintain  the  life  of  the  animal,  and  this 
process  is  continued  during  its  existence,  How  the  air  Avhich 
the  AAdiale  has  inspmed,  AA^hether  from  the  atmosphere  iiicctly, 

<<r  by  abstraction  from  the  Avater-  in  Avhich  he  lives,  aker  it 
has  been,  used  to  oxidate  his  blood,  is  to  be  gotten  rid  of. 
But  how  ? This  air  being  Avarm  carbonic  acid  gas,  and  asso- 
ciated Avith  Avatery  vapour  produced  by  the  heat  of  opi  ortlh;  - 
elcctricitias  in  conveiting  tlie  carbon  of  the  blood  i to  car 
Imnic  acid  gas  during  the  act  of  breathing,  is  positively  elec- 
trified, and  is  repelled  from  the  lungs  by  their  positive  eiee- 
P icity,  into  the  atmosphere  negatively  electrified,  thruvgh  ‘rg 
bbw-  holes  or  spiracles,  and  thus  the  act  of  breathing  among 
animals  is  nothing  more  or. less  than  the  action  of  electricities 
ici  their  opposite  condition  of  attraction  and  repulsion,  wnen 
associated  Avith  inspired  and  expired  atmospheiic  air. 

■Professor  Matteucci  has  incontestably  proved,  ‘‘that  eu^Tents 
of  electricity  are  ahvays  circulating  in  the  animal  fi’cme,  and 
are  not  limited  merely  to  cold  blooded  reptih^H,  hut  are 
common  to  fishes,  birds  and  mammalia.”  He  has  shown  ti  --!t  n. 
'■‘current  of  positive  electricity  is  always  circulating  from  .'he  » 
interior  to  the  exterior  of  a muscle,  and  that  muscular  cem- 


126 


trroti  : iS  am  developed  in  the  animal  machine  bj.a  fluid  wln.h 
i-5  CO'-  d .Kded  from  the  brain  to  the  muscles.” 

The  -;ontraction  of  a muscle  is  produced  by  an  electric  cur- 
rent -i'  one  kind.  The  extension  of  it  is  occasioned  by 
anotl ; , :r  current  of  opposite  electricity.  These  alternate  forces, 
applied  to,  the  muscles  of  an  animal,  keep  tliern  in  healthy 
cxoi'c  . and  occasion  all  their  movements,  whether  voluntary 
ai  diri:ct('d  by  the  will,  or  involuntary  as  independent  of  it. 
V.dio a ])Crson,  therefore,  is  immersed  in  water,  particularly 
in  sea  .vater,  ho  is  apt  to  be  drowned;  for  the  po.sitive  elcc- 
tricit.c  vv'hich  flows  from  the  interior  to  the  exterior  of  his 
mused  -M,  extending  them,  is  carried  off  rapidly  by  the  negative 
elect  ieity  of  the  water  in  which  he  is  immersed,  leaving  the 
negab  re  electricity  flowing  from  the  brain  to  the  muscles,  to 
condi-act  them  in  cramps,  which  he  is  not  able  to  overcome,  as 
Iic  l)us  lost  the  power  to  extend  his  limbs  by  the  escape- of  his 
imsiuvo  electricity  into  the  water.  This  is  the  cause  of  the 
frccmciit  drowning  of  pei’sons;  even  the  best  swimmers  are 
Bomciones  drowned  ifrom  this  cause.  The  Creator  has^  pro- 
vided a remedy  against  this  loss  of  positive  electricity  in 
aciua'ii-3  birds;  covered  with  down  and  outside  featheis,  they 
sccrcl.c  a certain  oily  ipatter  with  which  these  birds,  punc- 
turing with  their  bills  the  vesicles  containiiyg  it  on  the  surface 
of  t'.'-v-r  bodies,  and  Ailing  their  bills  wnth  it,  anoint  their 
feathers,  rendering  them  impenetrable  by  the  water  in  yhich 
they  swim,  and  thus  they  retain  not  only  their  electric- ities 
but  idso  the  necessary  temperature  of  their  bodies  which  the 
union  of  these  electricities  in  their  bodies  develops.  The 
■womciJ  of  the  South  Sea  Islands,  in  the  3?acific  Ocean,  ha^  ing 
taken  the  hint  from  these  birds,  wnthout  comprehending  its 
reason  when  they  go  to  swim  anoint’  their  bodies  with  palm 
or  cocoanut  oil,  an^  boldly  plunge  into  the  sca,_  swimming  a 
mile  l.'cvond  the  breakers  w^hich  surround  their  island  homes, 
and  tiilving  with  them  a piece  of  hoard,  sufficient  to  bear  their 
weight,  on  which  they  monnt,  and  then  standing  on  the 
boar-1  on  one  foot,  balancing  their  bodies  upon  it,  they  allow 
•ffie  bnrnenso  rollers  from  the  ocean  to  bear  them  with  great 
rapidity  to  the  breakers,  where  thrown  from  their  boards  by 
the  violence  of  their  motion  they  swim  to  the  shore,  repeating 
in  this  manner  their  sport  for  hours,  defying  cramps,  pre- 
serving'- their  electricities,  retaining  the  natural  heat  of  their 
bodipsCand  revelling  in  the  joyous  excitement  of  their  danger- 
ous sports.  This  practice  of  the  South  Sea  . Islanders,  _it  is 
said,  has  been  recently  imitated  by  the  English  Captain  ys-  ehb, 
in  his  successful  attempt  to  swim  across  the  Straits  of  Dover, 


127 


I>o  luiving  anointed  Ms  person  before  starting  vritb  the  oil  of 
p^i’poises,  wliicli  enabled  Mm  to  retain  bis  electricity  and  beat 
in  bis  body,  and  thus  to  accomplish  bis  feat.  ISTow,  in  cases 
of  shipwreck,  it  is  obvious  that  when  people  are  thrown  into 
the  water,  no  mere  floating  apparatus,  called  “Life  Pre- 
servers” arc  of  any  value  to  prevent  the  escape  of  the  elec- 
tricity and  beat  of  the  floating  person ; but  that  be  is  liable  to 
bo  drowned  in  a very  few  minutes  by  the  escape  of  those 
elements,  of  life  from  his  bodjy  notwithstanding  he  may  con- 
tinue to  float  for  hours  afterwards.  The’  Esquimaux  and 
other  Arctic  tribes  of  people  delight  to  eat  oils,  blubber,  and 
other  flitty  substances,  having,  been  taught  by  their  instinct 
that  this  fatty  diet  serves  to  retain  within  them  the  heat  of 
their  bodies-==^but  how?  All  fatty  substances  are  aiiti-fric- 
tional,  and  non-productive  of  electricity.  The  viscera  and 
tissues  of  these  flit  eating  people  become  invested  wdth  fat, 
retarding- the  evolution  of  electricity  in  their  system,  and  by 
thus  diminishing  their  interior  heat,  preventing  the  secretion 
of  excessive  perspiration,  by  winch  their  electricity  would  be 
carried'dff  frorh  their  bodies,  and  the  consequent  reduction  of. 
their  temperature. 

The  people  along  the  shores  of  the  Mediterranean  sea,  in 
the  south  of  France,  Spain  and  Portugal,  delight  also  in  oily 
foods,  as  a preventive  of  the  excessive  secretion  of  perspiration, 
without  however  understanding  the  rationale  of  their  diet. 

The  first  Jfapoleon,  in  a ■ conversation  with  Corvisart,  his 
chief  physician,  said,  that  “ he  had  no  faith  in  the  art  of  medi- 
cine; but  that  he  placed  a high  value  on  surgery.  Anatomy 
had  developed  a knowledge  of  the  human  organization,  and 
post  mortem  dissections  had  displayed  the  effects  of  disease, 
or  of  injuries  to  various  parts  of  the  human  sj^stem,  by  which 
the  surgeon  could  .profit,  but  that  no  such  valuable  ^^aid  was 
offered  to  the  physician,  who  had  to  grope  his  way  as  best  he 
could,  in  his  attempts  to  discover  the  cause  and  the  seat  of  the 
disease,  and  then  to  adopt  an  experimental  treatment  ti.> 
remove  it.” 

“P>ut,'’  said  Corvisart,  “ Does  your  Majesty  never  take  medi- 
cine?” “Ko,”  said  ITapoleon;  “When  T am  disordered,  I 
abstain  from  food,  mount  my  horse,  and  ride  rapidly  sixty 
miles — on  my  return  I bathe,  sleep  soundly,  and  the  next  day  I 
am  well.”  The  rationale  of  this  treatment  is  as  follows,  viz  : 
The  OvCtivo  exercise  on  horseback  produced  friction  in  many 
of  his  muscles,  which  friction  evolved  positive  electricity  : thi.s 
required  renewed  inspiration  of  atmospheric  air,  negatively 


' 128 


% 


olectrified,  to  restore  the  electrical  equilibrium ; the  union  of 
tliesc  electricities  developed  heat  and  magnetism,  Avliich  con- 
ducted to  the  stomach'  and  intestines  served  to  digest  the  food 
previously  talcen,  and  which,  having  remained  undigestO'i,  had 
occasionJd  his  disorder.  If  any  excess  of  electricity  remained 
i,:  his  svstem  after  his  return  to  the  palace,  the  warm  bath 
conducted  it  from  him,  and  soothed  him  to  sleep. 

Solomon,  the  wisest  of  men,  has  left,  as  one  of  his  legacies 
to  -mankind,  the  maxim,  “spare  the  rod  and  spoil  the  child.” 

Now  let  us  examine  this.  Wheu_  children  were  misbehayod, 
were  destructive  in  their  inclinations  and  conduct,  rebellious 
to  authority,  and  were  otherwise  troublesome  to  parents  or 
others  having  the  charge  of  them,  Solomon,  being  a keen 
observer,  of  effects,  recommended  personal  chastisement  with 
tl’iC  rod,  and  naturally  attributed  their  better  deportment 
after  the  punishment,  to  the  fear  of  the  child  of  its  repetition, 
and  perhaps  with  greater  severity.  This  was  possibly  a natural 
r onclusion  on  his  part,  at  the  age  in  which  he  lived,  and  may 
be  so  considered  even  at  the  present  time,  but  there  is  another 
explanation,  more  philosophical  and  more  scientific.  It  is  as 
follows,  viz  : 'Whou  people  are  in  good  health,  they  are  usually  y 

cheerful,  in  good  humqur  with  themselves,  and  amiable  to  ;| 

those  around  them;  they  do  not  think  of  or  attempt  to  per-'  | 

T.etrate  mischief  to  others,  their  electricities  are  in  equilibrium,  | 
and  they  deport  themselves  properly.  Now  let  one  or  other  ' f 
of  their  electricities  be  in  excess,  irnmediately  their  disposi-  | 

■^ions  bectime  changed;  no  longer  amiable,  they  see  every  thing  | 

and  person  through  a disturbed  medium;  they  become  sullen,  | 

cross,  crabbed,  quarrelsome  and  disagreeable;  the  least  dis-  ,| 

appointment  ruffles  them,  and  they  proceed-  to  behave  ill.  ■ | 

Now  wiih  children,  when  the  rod  is  applied  vigorously  to  their  | 
rw'.rsons  the  friction  produced  by  the  blows  evolves  electricity 
<u'  the  ki nd  necessary  to  restore  the  healthy  electric  equilibrium  | 

of  their  bodies.  \Vhen  that  is  re-established  theie  is  an  end  | 

of  the  trouble:  they  become  amiable  and  gentle.  This  salutary  ^ 

method  of  correcting  “ les  enfans  ierribles,”  has  greatly  fallen  | 

into  disuse  in  oqr  times,  from  the  overweening  maternal  in-  f 

stiiict  of  mammas,  which  is  horrified  by  the  cries  of  the  suffering  | 

little  ones,  and  hence  they  decry  against  it. 

This  punishment  is  also  well  adapted  to  the  adult  human 
animal,  if  we  are  to  believe  a statement  recently  made  in  some 
of  the  liiondon  newspapers.  It  seems  that  the  Biltish  Parham  • ; 

ment  within  a few  years  past,  had  re-established  corporeal  t 

punishment  with  the  cat-o’-nine-tails  at  a whipping  post  for  a f 


120 


certain  ^ c i ci  'minals,  whose  crimes  had  become  nlai  inino-lv 
numerous.-  Hmee  ^tlie  re-introduction  of  the  whii:;p'uc’  rwst 
and  its  accompa  lying  punishment,  these'  crimes  have  * Imost 
ceased  to  exist . Let  other  people  profic  by  the  exaiLrp  v,^ 

It  is  remarkable  that  three  such  eminent  men  as  Solomon 
-Nichy.  iS  I,  ot  llussia,  and  J^Iapoleon  Bonaparte,  si- vuid  each 
nse.m  a diilerent  way  the  powers  of  electricity  sr,  :iiv. 
and  yet  he  ignorant  of  the  powers  they  were  d ' .-in^ 
Solomon  by  his  rod  correcting  the  wilful  caprices  or  hi-  ’ oo§- 
Lieholas  I,  removing  the  efthcts  of  frost  bites,  and  deon 
re^oririg  Imhmlf  to  health,  each  by  the  evolution  of  ok-id  -i.-ity 

Let  us  tirm  now  to  the  fourth  class  of  vertebrate  a -Imals’ 
winch  as  a general  rule  live  iu  the  water,  and  prominent  in 
tins  cia.-,s  are  fishes.  .“  A fish  breathes  by  means,  of  He  gills, 
extraetiog  the  air  from  the  water  in  which  it  lives,  emd  T-eject- 
ing  tiie  water,  which  carries  off  wdiatever  positive  eloc-v'icity 
mat  may  have  been  evolved^  by  its  muscles  in  its  inotions.’'  .- 
ilns  leaves  the  fish,  in  a condition  of  negative  electd-itv.  like 
that  of  the  water  in  wdiich  it  lives,  and  having  but  one  elec- 
• tricity,  it  iv  cold  ulooded — ^w'arm  blooded  animals  haw.np  their 
, y union  or  conjunction  of  opposite 

electricities.  “Fish  are  nearly  insensible  to  pain,  fioni  the 
same  cause,”  as  all  pain  iu  animals  results  from  a disturbance 
ot  the  electrical  equilibrium  of  their  bodies.  “ The  tempera: 
ture  ot  fish  is  only  2°  warmer  than  fhat  of  the  water  in  which 
they  live.  They  have  small  brains  in  comparison  to  the  sme 
ot  them  bodies— considerably  smaller  in  proportion  tliar.  they 
are  in  birds  or  mammalia.”  This  accounts  for  their  insensi- 
bility tc  pain,  “ but  the  nerves  communicating  with  the  brain, 
are  as  large  in  fish  proportionately  as  in  either  birds  or  mam- 
stmses  of  sight  and  hearing  are  well  developed 
in  fish,  as  are  am-:’  those  of  smell  and  taste,  particn lari v that 
of  smell,  wliich  chiefly  guides  them  to  their  food.  This  “sense 
IS  very  keen,  more  so  than  in  many  other  animals,  and  thus  it 
is  that  strong  smelling  baits  are  so^successful  in  fishing.” 

Fish  are  remarkably  fecund.  There  is  noth!  :g  in  the 
animal  world  that  can  be  compared  with  them,  unless  it  be 
some  species  of  insects.  The  codfish-  yields  its  eg<^s  in 
millions,  from  a sturgeon  have  been  taken  seven  millTons  of 
eggs,  flounder  produces  1,200,900,  the  sole  1,000, 000.  iuackerel 
500,000,  and  so  on.  These  eggs,  if  they  be  not  viviAle<i  by  the 
milt  ot  the  maie  fish,  just  rot  away  in  the  sea,  and  nv'vjr  come 
to  lite  at  all,  and  are  of  no  value  except  perhaps  , v food  to 
some  minor  animals  of  the  deep.  ' . , 


130 


It  i,^  now  well  k-^own,  that  the  impregnation  of  h.sli  eggs  is 
a P *n  eiv  external  act  to  their  bodies,  iish  having  no  organs 
-jf  fr.:  v:\:rntinn.  It  is  this  wonderfully  exceptional  principle  in 
tluTiiib  of  lish,that  has  given  rise  to  the  artof  piseicnltnrc,<.  e. 
■the  artiticial  impregnatiou  of-the  eggs  of  iislg  lord  fly  exuded 
from  their  bodies, "which  arc.  brought  into  contact  v’ith  the 
milt  of  the  male  lish  iudcpenciciit  altogether  of  tlie  animal. 

‘The  principle  of  fish  life  which  brings  the  male  and  female 
fish  together  at  the  period  of  spawning  is  nuknown.  Some 
uatnValists  have  supposed  that  the  fish  do  3)  >r  gatlicr  iuto^ 
shoals  till  they  are  al)Out  to  portorm  the  gTan'*.st  action  ot 
their  nature,  and  that  till  then  each  animal  hves  a separate 
and  iridividual  life;  but  this  does  not  suggest  the  attraction 
wliich,  brings  them  into  this  association. 

I will  venture  upon  an  explanation.  Their  instinct  teaches 
them  that  tlioir  eggs,  wdmn  ready  to  he  discharged  from  their 
bodies,  must  be  deposited  in  warmer  water  thuTdtliat  in 
which  they  habitually  swim.  Having  but  one  electricity,  fh^ 
netrativc;  which  is  the  same  as  that  iu  wdiich  they  live,  no  vivi- 
ficriuoa'  of  fheir  eggs  could  take  place  if  duly  cornininglcd 
with  the  milt  of  the  male  fish  in  mid  ocean,  but  attracted  by 
the  warmer  waKu'  of'  rivers,  at  their  sources,  or  iu  lochs  or 
haws  sliclterod  from  the  waves  of  the  sea,  where  iu  their 
shallows.vegctablo  food  is  always  growing  at  liotto.m  for 
the  support  of  the  young  fry,'  when  they  shail  be  hatched, 
they  hasten  in  immense  shoals  for  mutual  protection  from, 
their  cne.mics,  to  these  lyin-gdn  places,  where  the  eggs  or  roc 
of  the  female,  and  the  rnilt  of  the  male  are  contiguously 
deposited  on  the  rocks  ov  in  the  gi-avcl  at  the  bottom.  The 
positive  electricity  of  the  warm  water  derived  from  the  fric- 
•tioiud  action  of  suidight  upcm  the  rocks  an:.l  sand  on  the 
. bottom  of  the  shallow  waters  iu  -which  the  eggs  of  the  fish 
have  been  deposited,  as  w'oll  as  upon  the  eggs  themselves 
. coniiug  in  contact  with  the  negatively  cloetrjlad  eggs  and 
miit  evolves  heat,  and  Avith  it  magnetism,  and  iu  dne  time 
the  young  fry  m'c  fully  .developed,  vhfified  liy  those  elements 
of  life,  breaking  thc  outcr  membrane  or  shell  of  the  eggs  con- 
taining them,  already  distended  and  thinned  l>y  -the  growth 
of  the  erabr}-©  within,  emerging  into  full  life  into  the  elemeut 
where  they  are  to  have  their  being.  Of  course,  the  hatching 
of  the  eggs  of  fish  is  not  unifonm  as  to  time  in  ditferent  species, 
some  requiring  a longer  period  than  others  to  attain  the 
maturity  of  their  development. 

Here  we  have  a rcmarka,blc  illmstratiou  of  the  production  of 


131 


I,', 


? 


[ 


!■ 


life  by  electricity  and  magnetism,  outside  of  the  bodies  of  the 
parent  fisli ; while  perliaps  in  almost  every  other  class  of  animal 
life  it  is  developed  within,  the  body  of  the  female,  after  ipipreg- 
nation  by  the  male  animal,  showing  most  conclusively  that  these 
imponderables  are  ahvays  present  as'  well  at  the  commence- 
ment of  life  as  daring  its  continuance,  while  it  has  Ijccn 
demonstrated  time  and  again,  that  whatever  decreases  the  vis 
vUce  ,o£  an  animal  diminishes  also  the  evidence  of  the  eiec- 
tincity  within  it,  until  after  death  it  ceases  altogether.  Are  we 
not  riglit,  therefore,' in  concluding  that  electricity,  magnetism, 
and  heat  arc,  in.ccrtaj.n  relations  to  each  other,  elements  of 
every  life  ? ‘ 

Oxygen  gas'is  a supporter, of  combustion,  as  it  also  is  of  life, 
which  in  fact  is  one. form  of  combustion.  It. is  negatively 
electrified,  and  it  is  hecause  it  is  so  electrified  that  it  supports 
both  life  and  combustion.  Let  us  illustrate  this.-  The  atmos- 
phere, composed  of  nitrogen  and -oxygon  gases  for -the  most 
part,  with  a slight  admixture  Of  other  gases  and  watery  vapour, 
which  last  contaius  a largo  portion  of  oxygen  gas,  is  nega- 
tively electrified.  Wood,  coal,  and  vegetable  substances,  iii  a 
dry  state,  are  positively  electrified.  Kow  when  wo  have  on 
our  hearths  wood  as  fuel,  aud  from  the  condition  of  the  wood 
'as  Aveil  as  that  ot  the  atmosphere  the  combustion  of  the  wood 
is  slow  and  sluggish,  wo  apply  a pair  of  bellows  to  hasten  it 
the  common  explanation  of  tliis  use  of  .the  bellows  is,  that  it 
brings  more  oxygen  gas  into  contact  with  the  slightly  kindled 
wood. than  tie  atmosphere  naturally  furnishes,  aud  hence  the 
combustion  is  quickened.  This  is'  true,  hut  it  also  brings 
associated  with  the  oxygen  gas  its  negative  .electricity,  which 
coining  into  union  with  the  positive  electricity  of  the  fire  aud 
the  wood  already  slightly  heated,  produces  increased  heat, 
W'hich  the  additional  oxygen  gas  thus  supplied  nourishes  into 
flame,  and  the  fire  is  properly  kindled.  Potassium  thrown 
into  a vessel  of  oxygen  gas,  hursts  into  the  most  brilliant 
flame  from  the  same  cause,  the  potassium  being  positiv'oly 
electrified  in  a high  degree  and  so  it  is,  hut  in  a lesser  uegroo, 
with  the  other  metalloids. 

In  regard  to  the  non-produciug  and  non-conducting  powers 
of  electricity  by  fatty  or  oleaginous  substances,  a very  ren7.ark- 
ahlo  fact. has  been  developed  in  relation  to  the' human  family. 


It  has  for  a long  time  been  observed  that  in  countries  where 
the  sugar  caue  has  been  cultivated,  aud  where  sugar  has  h.'cu 


132 


Titminfiictured  from  its  expressed  juice,  the  negroes  cmploved 
ill  ]l^^llvillg  it  groAr  enormously  fat  from  the  unrestricted  rise  of 
tlie  w:anu  juice  of  the  expressed  cane  during  the  process  of 
hoiling.  From  this  food,  like  the  whale,  they  become  sur- 
rounded by  an  envelop  of  fat,  as  do  also  the  .interior  organs 
of  iheir  bodies.  This  fat  is  anti-frictional  and  pr.events  the 
ev'/oition  of  electricity,  which  in  the  absence  of  the  fat  vrould 
be  developed.  Hence  these  labourers  could  no  longer  be  pro- 
crea':'';e,  and  as  their  labour  was  A'cry  exhausting,  the  neces- 
sity for  a new  gang  of  labourers  every  four  or  five  years  be- 
came established  on  sugar  plantations.  This  fact,  in  sugar 
producii;g  countries,  has  kept  alive  and  continued  th.e  negro 
slave  trade  to  this  day — and  where  it  has  been  abolished  and 
the  cciolie  trade  substittited  for  it,  the  same  results  obtain. 
dSTo  ux;.men  are  sent  to  the  plantations  with  the  coolies,  for 
they  become  like  negroes,  virtually  emasculated  by . the 
absence  of  their  electricity.  So  that  Ave  may  attribute  to  the 
loss  of  electricity  in  the  producers  of  sugar  the  great  obstacle 
to  the  abolition  of  slaA'cry  for  so  long  a time  in  the  British 
West  indies,  and  at  the  present  moment  in  the  Spanish  Islands, 
in  Brazil,  and  elscAvhefe  as  it  exists. 

The  same  deteriorating  iiiTucnces  upon  their  organization- 
-from  fatness,  in  other  portions  of  the  human  race,  appear  in' 
various  parts  of  the  world,  preventing  the  development  of 
their  electricity  and  magnetism,  by  which  their  animal 
fuiictions  are  impaired,  and  their  intellectual  faculties  greatly 
weakened.  The  Esquimaux,  Fins,  Laps,  and  all  inhabitants  of 
high  northern  climates,  I'equiring  a fatty  and  carbonaceous 
food,  are  examples  of  this  character.  The  inference  to  be 
draAA'n  from  this  remarkable  fact  is  that  such  persons  as  arc 
opposed  to  an  increase  of  population,  and  who  resist  the  in- 
junction to  the  Patriarchs  of  “going  forth,  multiplying  and 
replenishing  the  earth,”  should  select  for  their  companions  in 
life  the  fattest  persons  of  the  opposite  sex  that  they  can  find, 
and  they  will  be  rcAA'arded  by  an  immense  reduction  in  their 
household  and  educational  expenses  when  compared  Avith 
those  of  their  neighbours 'AA'ho  chance  to  be  of  a lean  kind. 

In  connection  with  this  subject  of  continuing  a species  of 
animal,  I may  mention  that  in  Europe,  as  Avell  as  in  this 
country,  a A'ery  mistaken  notion  exists  as  to  the  best  as^e  at 
which  cattle  should  be  propagated.  The  prevailing 

idea  is  that  heifers  should  not  be  allowed  to  bear  their  off- 
spring before  they  are-  four  years  old,  and  in  the  state  of  Penn-' 


133 


svlvania  they  are  not  taxable  before  they  have  attained  that 
age.  Ihov',  this  is  a fallacy,  asJ  have  al>undantly  tested  dur- 
ing thc  last  twenty  years.  I have  thought  that  nature  wtis  the 
best  guide  in  such  cases,  and  accordin^dy,  as  iny  animals  are 
always  well  eared  for,  my  heifers  are  sufficiently  developed 
■and  matured  when  nine  months  old  to  receive  the  mas -uline 
im]U’Cgnation,  and  to  undergo,  afterwards,  a 'healthy  gestation, 
and  to  produce  their  young  when  about  eighteen  months  old. 

system  of  breeding,  there  is  a saving  in  the  expense  of 
supporting  young  heifers  during  two  years  and  a half  o^-er  th  e 
conimou  method.  My'hertl  of  cows  thus  produced  will  com- 
pare favorably  in  size,  produce  of  milk,  cream  and  butter,  and 
hcalthfulncss  with  any  herd  of  similar  numbers  of  cows  in  tiiis 
country.  I (do  not  remember  to  have  had  a sick  cow  or  h-eildr 
during  the  last  twenty  years.  But  I have  exceeded  even  this 
early_  propagation  of  their  species.  Last  year  a tmung  heifer 
of  mine,  only  four  months  old,  manifesting  a desire  for  copu- 
lation, w'as  permitted  to  receive  the  male  impregnation.  Khe 
duly  eoireoived,  and  before  she  was  fourteen  unonths  old  she 
bore  a healthy  male  calf.  The  heifer  herself,  appareiitlv,  was 
not  incommoded  by  the  event,  and  continued  to  enjov'cxcc  -- 
lent  health;  aud.some  six  weeks  after  the  birth  of  her  l-.dtsl.j 
again  received  the  male  impfeguation.  This  heifer  was  r-jaro  I . 
uu(ler  the  stimulating  influence  of  the  associated  hlin^  ami  ' 
plain  glass,  wdiich  had  hastened  its  development  three  years 
and  a half.  liTow,  apply  this  discovery  to  the  rearing  of  d o- 
mestic. animals  throughout  the  world,  and  begin  to  eshmaic 
the  benefit  to  mankind  to  he  derivecl  from  the  reduced  ex- 
penses in  producing  them  and  the  great  gain  that  will  reside 
in  hicreasing  the  number  of  animals  to  h*e  raised  in  any  given- 
period  of  time,  and  some  faint  idea  may  be  formed  of  the  gre-at 
value  of  this  discovery  in  this  single  branch ' of  human  in- 
dustry. 

A wide-spread  error  in  agricixlture  exists  in  Europe,  as  well 
as  ill  this  country,  and  has'' even  hoen  vi^diitaiued  in  hooks  of 
science.  It  is  “ that  underneath  large  trees  vegetation  droopts 
and  languishes,  oven  ivhen  the  shade  is  not  v'ery  iuteiisc.” 
Some  years  ago  I had  occasion  to  p)lough  up  the  sod  which 
covered  a small  orchard  of  apple  and  chestnut  trees  ou  my 
farm.  All  the  trees  Avere  old  and  large.  I caused  the  field  to 
he  AA-ell  manured,  even  to  the  bottom  of  the  trunks  of  all  the 
trees.  'When  the  ground  Avas  well  broken  up,  I directed  my 
farmer  to  mark  out  di-ills  for  sugar  beets,  and  to  plant  the  seed 


134 


cio;-:':'  up  to  the  trunks  of  all  tlic  trees.  He  looked  at  me  with 
astonVshment,  and  said : “ Why,  sir,  plant  so  close  to  the  trees  ? 

ever  grows  under  tlVe  shade  of  trees!’’  I replied  ' 
that  I iiad  heard  such  a statement  hoforc,  hut  that  I did  not 
tbirdc  it' to  he  well  founded.  I had  seen  too  many  weeds, 
sucioTS  and  hramhlcs  growing  luxuriantly  uiuler  trees  all  over 
the  ( . .nntry  to  attach  any  credence  to  it.  “ Do  as^  I tell  you 
phiei:  ihe  seed  close  to  the  trees,  and  leave  the  result  to  take' 
can : ‘ • t itself.”  My  farmer  v/as  so  much  astounded  hy  what  he 
comidered  my  foolish  directions,  that  he  went  over  to'  some 
fanie-'rs  who  were  planting  tlicir  seed  in  neighhouring  Holds, 
and  rdd  thonr  of  the  ahsnrd  directions  I' had  given  him.  In 
the  fulness  of  their  nciglihonrly  kindness,  they  came  over  to  me 
+0  oulighten  me.  on  the  subject  of  farming.  “Your  man  tcHs 
us  s;nd  one  oftlicm  to  me,  “that  you  have  told  him -to  plant 
su’wrr  beet  seed  close  to  the  trunks  of  your  big  clmstnut  trees. 
Wo  have  come  over  fo  tell  you^  -what  ;)X)U  may  not  knopp  that 
no  p'anfvvill  grow  under  the  .shade  of  trees,  and  to  dissuade 
yodi  t'r-om  attempting  to  make  them  grow  there.  ^Vo  have  . 
hcon  [arming  2,5  yca3.’s,  and  our  fathers  bcforc.us  all  their  lives, 
anu  v-c  have  never  heard  of  such  a thing  as_ planting  for  a 
crop  under  the  shade  of  trees.  Pray  don’t  trypt.”  I thanked 
tholu  for  their  solicitude,  hut  told  them  that  “ it\vas  an  c.aperi- 
mcai  : if  it  should  fail,  the  loss  of  a few  seed  and  a little  labour 
were  ^.11  that  would  ho  involved  in  it;  and  if  it  should  succeed, 
it  ^ ••■■dd  explode  and  banish  a very  mischievous  ami  expcmsivu 
falhu-v  in  agriculture;, little hurm  was  to  he  appreheuded  from 
it.”  'The  tanner  tiiidiug  mo  kctcrniiiied,  said,  “You  gcutlo- 
m'on  from  the  city,  come  into  the  country,  buy  land,^  p'cet 
exiiiu  sive  huildiugs,  purchase  high  priced  stock  of  all  kinds, 
and  ''  “.  cry  new  tangled  tool  or  labour  saving  machine  that  is 
advertised,  hire  people  and  go  to  Avork,  and  think  yoiv  are 
fame  rs;  hut  I have  never  known  one  of  you  to  make  CA'cn 
his  expenses  out  of  his  farming.  You  had  all  much  hotter  do 
as^A'cmr  ncighl)ours  do  than  strike  out  into  new  paths.”  I 
said  him^  “your  robuke  is  just,  and  what  you  say  is  no 
doub.t  true;  I acknowledge  it  to  he  true  in  my  ease.  I knoAV 
Tcrv  iittle  of  anything,  hut  I could  not  think  for  a mpmeut  of 
takin  ^'-  up  the  time  of  my  farming  neighbours  by  asking  them 
how  Ui  manage  my  farm;  I must  learn  it  as  host  I canAvitliout 
taxing  their  nciglihonrly  kindness,  and  this  experiment  of 
mine^is  one  of  my  early  lessons  in  farming.”  Piuallj,  these 
0-ood  people  took  their  leave,  and  my  beet  seed  AA-ere  planted 
Iccm’dmo-  to  my  directions.  In  due  time  they  germinated, 


and  1?ogan  to  grow,  and  to  the  surprise  of  my  farmer  tlvo 
plants  as  tlv'y  grew  became  stronger  and  larger  at. the  l.»ottom 
of  the  tr  ui  ilc-'’  of  the  largest  frees  than  the  other  plant.s  were 
in  the  o[)ei\  spaces  in  other  parts  of  the  field.  This  ditference 
continued  to  increase  as  the  season  advanced,  and  when  the 
time,  had  arrived  for  gathering  them,  the  greatest  contrast, 
was  pciceptible  between  those  that  had  grown  under  the 
shade  of  the  trees,  even  of  the  largest,  and  those  which  had 
grown  in  the  open  sunlight. 

At  thi.'  tinm  the  same  Idnd  neighbours  who  had  visited  me, 
in  the  previous  spring  to  advise  me  against  planting  my  secd. 
undcr  the  shade  of  the  trees,  Avere  gathering  their  an tumn 
crop>s  in  the  adjacent  fields.  T went  over  to  them  and  a^ked 
them  if  tiio.y  would  like  to  sec  my  beet  crop,  and  on  tlfclr  ex- 
pressing a desire  to-see  it,  Ipnvitcd  them  to  accompany  me, 
and  Wo  proei  o.dcd  to  the  field.  Gn  otu*  way  I asked  them 
whcr<;  thoY  thought  the  best  hccts  avouM  he  found.  . “ In  the 
open  snn.l>gb.t  to  he  sore,’’  was  .the  ansAA^er;  “nothing  ever 
groAvs  nttder  the  shade  of  trees  I”  I madeyto  reply,  and  soon 
after  avo  entered  the  field.  As  avo  passed  along  I Avas  amused 
at  the  astonishment  depicted  on  their  countenances,. as  .they 
exaii.d.u'-d.  the  beets  in  different-  parts,  of  the  £cld.  Presently 
ofie  oi  tuexa^  nu<lging  another,  said  in  a Ioav  Amice  ; “ (Teorgo, 
did  you. ever  see  any  thing  like  that  before?  Avhy,  there  ai’o'no. 
beets  in  the'  sunlight,  and ' the  big  ones  are  under  the  ■leos.” 
This  AVU.S  .rhc  fact;  the  plants  in  fbe  sunlight  Avero  fev:,  seatr 
tered  and  spindling  in  their  groAvtb,  having  a long  shnidci' 
taproot  and  were  valueless  for  food,  Avhilc  there  aaocs  .a: 
luxuriant  growth  under  the  trees  of  large  sized  and  eycellont 
quail  iv.  After  examining  attentively  the  Avhole  ficl(i,,  and 
declariiig  that  they  had  never  seen  or  heard  of  the  like,  and 
Avould  not  haA’e  bclioA’od  it  had  they  not  seen  it  them  s:- 1 yes, 
they  came  to  me  and  asked  me  if  I could  explain  so  unheard 
of  a ].lionomenon,  I replied,  “'you  knoAV  1 am  fimni  t;m  city, 
how  then  can  I ho- expected  to  know  anything  about  fu;  nr’iig? 
If  you  Aviio  have  been  farmers  all  your  lives,  and  your  fathers 
before  a'ou  lli.e  same,  cannot  explain  this  Avhy  should  y :>!7  ex- 
pect mo  Avho  have  no  experience  in  farming,  being  fr  nn  the 
city,  to  do  it  ? I knoAv  nothing  about  it,  hut  I Avill  toll  you 
what  I think.  ' I AAdll  illustrate  my  meaning  by  an  ex:.rn,plo  : 
suppose  you  should  take  t.AVO  men,  both  healthy,  strong  and 
vigorous,  and  both  very  hungry — one  of  them  is  six  feet  tall 
and  very  broad  and  muscular — the  other  man  is  five  foot  six 
inches  'high,  and  also  muscular.  Suppose  you  place  them  at  a 


) 


.136 

table  ami  -j  iut  before  tlieni  food  sufficient  only  fox*  ono  X ixat:  of 
{ivcvsge  si/'.c  and  sti*engtb,  and  tell  tbcm  to  cat,  Isow  x'lincb  of 
the  food  ; do  you'thinkthe  little 'man  rronhl  got?”  “ Y.'ell,  I 
' gues.s  not  a great  deal  of  it,’’  said  one  of  the  nxen ; to  ^^■l;icil  the 
others  fisKoited.  “Xow,  suppose  youhadput  outlie  i able  xaiough 
food  tor  br)th,  would  they  not  fisc  from  the  table  refreshed 
and  rein vigoratod,  and  ready  for  their  woi’k  ?”  I said  to  them. 
“ Well,  ye.s,  I should  think  so;”  Avas  their  answer.  ‘‘hTow,” 
said  I to  them ; “the  first  supposition  illustrates  your  mode 
of  farviting.  Yon -manure  your  land  lightl}  , furidjdiim':  food 
enough  only  for  your  ci’op,  and  nothing  for  your  hnn<n’y  trees,, 
if  YOU'  should  happen  ■ to  have  any  npou  your  land.  The 
trees,  neglected  and  hu.ngry,  take  all  the  fo(?d  wntjnn  reach  of 
their  root',  and  nothing  grows,  therefore,  nndcu'  tlicir  shade — 
hence  your  proverb  that  plants. Avill  not  grow  uxidernealh  the 
shade'  of  large  trees  oven  when  dt  is  not  very  inteixse.  In 
my  experiment  I had  placed  sufficient  food  hefor'i  the 
largo  tf cos,  and  the.  smair plants.  The  tree  digests  its  food, 
.and  can  take  no  more  food  at  givcii.  time  than  ca.n  any 
■ animal,  relatively— consequently  Avhat  is  left  m'er  after  fi;eding 
the  tree  g'-ws  tO'  feed  the  ■small  plants  and  it  also  gets  its  fill 
of  untrition, 'SO  * at  both  thrive  and  grow  Ijoaltl/fiiUy.  How, 
there  is  another  reason  jvhy  small  plaxits  should  groAv  better 
and  fa.'-'vcr  laader  the  shade.,  of. large  trees  than  ax ;y\vh't? ro  else, 
and  it  is  this.  The  dew  late  in  the  afteiaioon  beop-.s  to  settle 
upon  the  leaves  of  plants  under  the  shade  of  trees  an  hour  or 
more  before  it  does  out  in  tlie  sunlight,  ami  iii  the  morning 
after  the  sun  has  risen,  the  shade  of  the  trees  x^T'otoots  the 
plants  under- them  from  losing  the  dew  upon  them  by  evapora- 
tion, till  ton  o’clock,  A.  M.  So  that  the  plants  under  the 
shade  of  tlxe  trees  have  the  adA'antage  of,  four  or  xnoro  hours 
of  moisture,  *in  the  dew  that  rests  ux>bn  them,  than  other  plants 
iu.the  sunlight  AA’hich  haA’e  no  such -xjrotcctio)! — and  you  know 
that  m6islui;e  is  necessary  to  the  grcAAdh  of  plants,”  They 
thanked  me  for  my  ex'planation  and  went  tlioir  vviy  con-' 
fouxided.  Since  then  I liaA^e  cultivated  under  AU-ry  large  trees 
on  nxy  hiwn,  plants  and  flowers  of  many  discrijAtions  Avith  great 
succc.sa,  and  the  cultivation  has  greatly  benefited  the  trees 
thcxnsc  lves.  I would  recoxnmend  to  all  having  trees  on  their 
lawixs  to  eultiv’ate  the  soil  at  their  bases  iiV  floAvei’ing  x^lants,  if 
they  desire  ornaments,  or  in  vegetables  if  they  need  them  for 
food.  To  holders  of  small  patches  of  land,  this  information 
may  ju’bve  to  he  of  great  comfort  and  convenience. 

This  little  narrative  brings  me  to  the  mxhject  of  the  forma- 


V. 


137 


tion  of  dew,  wdiich  I do  not  attribute  to  condensation  of  the 
atmosphe:’e  bolding  it  in  suspension,  but  to  tb.e  ; 
opposite  cau.,c,  viz;  the  expansion  and  rarefaction  -f  flic 
atmosphere  by  heat,  its  ascent  upwards  andpts  abandomnen' 
of  the  water  ivliich  it  had  previously  held  iii  suspension. 

When,  in  ihe  rotationmf  the  earth  upon  its  axis,  any  e'ivcr 
area  of  its  surface  is -no  longer  illuminated  by  the  su  n s ra  -,,-,, 

■;  or,  as  iji  common  language,  it  is  said; -“It  is  sunset;'’  the  ■’avs 
of  sunlight  do  not  illumine  the  atmosphere  that  is  over  such 
an  area  of  the  earth’s  surface,  and,  as'  the  night  advances,  thof 
atmosphere  becomes  colder  and  more  magnetic  with  hr- 
increase  of  cold  by  induction.  Columns  or.  volumes  or  th:e 
cold  air  are  th.cn  attracted  to  the  earth  by  its  6-y  ;ofth.i 
.magnet!;  ng  and  descend  towards  it.  At  the  same  tinle  the 
in  couto'd  \_dth  tpid  just  above  the  eaith’s  surface,  liovinn  l;?er; 
heated  during  the  clay  by  the  electricity  evolved  by  surhli-hr. 
and  being,  positively  electrified,  ascends  to  meet  the  eohr aii-’ 
descending  from  above,  negatively  electrified  and  epposltcdv' 
magnetic;  the  conjunction  of  these  opposite  elevh-ioifo-  ■ 
produces^- addif tonal  heat  which  so  warms  the  air  ftchghtoh 
with  mqlstUro  that  is.  descending  from  above,  that  its  enfian- 
sion  ana  rarefaction  wll  no  longer  admit  of  its  hoiditii’  ;,■> 
suspension  too  watery  vapour  that  it  was  bringivu’  down  wig;  • 
it;  it  conserniently  ascends  alone,  leaving  the  globules  of  v;afer 
which  it  contained  to  be  carried  to  the  earth  by  their  nv.ignec- 
i-sm,  anu  to  insensibly  settle  upon  the  grass,  leaves,  eax  il;.  &c., 
and  torn':  what  wo  call  dew,  hoar  frost,  &c-,  according  to  t'U' 
temperature  of  the  earth’s  surface  at  the  time  of  sucirdcposi- ' 
tion.  This  occurs  iu  a cloudless  sky. 

• Wlien  ihe  clouds  are  floating  above  us,  there  is  no  dew,  not 
because,  as  we  have  been  tan^t,  that  the  radiated  heat  fro.-^ 
the  earth  is  reflected  by  the  lower  surface  of  the  clouds  to  the 
eai’th,  thnsbkeoping  the  air  in  contact  with  the  earth  too  war :n 
to  deposit  its  water  as  dew,  as  that  is  an  absurdity,  since  hear 
reaching-  the  lower  part  of  any  gaseous  or  vapomy  fluid,  woua.l 
at  once  peiictrate  and  permeate  such  gases,  vapours  or  clouds 
and  expand,  rarefy  and  disperse  them ; hut  because  the  inter- 
posing  clouds  would  prevent  the  descent  of  the  volumes  of 
cold . air  freighted  with  moisture  above  them  to  the  earth 
below,  and  consequently  there  could  he  no  deposition  of  water 
or  dew  from  them.  Cold  does  not  condense  the  atmosphere, 
for  if  it  did  the  density  of  the  air  would  be  much  gre:aer  in 
winter  than  in  summer,  which  we  know  is  not  the  case.  Be- 


138 


sides,  ti\o  rarity  and  tenuity  of  tlie  air  at  great  elevations, 
vrlicro  evtreme'cold  prevails  perennially,  contradicts  this  as-  ' ’ 
sumption.  Nor  has  the  air  any  weight— gravitatioms  sui>  . 

pofi'd  to  act  only  in  one  direction,  viz : towards  the  centre  ot 
the  earth  while  it  is  known  that  the  air  presses  erpmlly  m all 
directions,  upwards  from,  below,  laterally  and  downward  from 
above,  hcaee  it  cannot  he’ acted  npoii  hy  grayitahon.^  xhe  . 
harometric  pressure  of  the  atmosphere  iii  its  variations,  is  clue 
in  all  m-ohahility  to  magnetic  attraction  and  repulsion  between 
the  atmosphere  and  the  earth.  The  same  reasoning  appUes  to 
the  waters  of  the  oceans.  They  are  fluids  xn'essing  Jihe  thearr 
hi  all  directions,  npivards  from  below,  laterally  and  down- 
wards and  rest  upon  the  earth  hy  the  attraction  of  tuo  earth  s 
ma-^-nctism,  and  not  hy  gravitation,  since  their  ..upward  and 
latclral  pressures  are  antagonistic  to  the  attraction,  of  gravi- 
tation. Every  drop  of  water  is  a magnet.  When  the  globules 
n>'o  vertical  their  poles  are  at  tho-toci  of  their  forms,  the 
lovmr  polo  attracted  hy  the  • magnetism  of  the  air  above 
and  its  upper  pole  attracted  towards  the  maguetisui  of  the 
earth  below.  These  dowmvarcl  and  upward  attractions 
corresponding  repulsions  dislocate,  from  their  great  .mobility, 
other  ^dohnles  of  the  water,  and  force  their  polar  magnetic 


or 


ressures 
lljnough- 
■,  iih  each 
. These 
;o  water, 
the  con- 


av^s  hriio  horizontal 'or  dia-magnetic,  ancl.tlpe 
e-ervvd  - ere  varying  in  tension,  develop  magnetic.for/;e.-: 
out  ihc  mass  of  water,  acting  at  every  possible  angl  e ^ 
other  and  producing  everywhere  opposite  rcsistaim.^ 
rriao-notic  cluumes  induce  electrical  disturbances . ,ui  t 
residing'  in  the  development  nf  heat  hy  fnetion  a-nd 
innetion  of  opposite  electricities,  causing  ni  all  latirudos  those 
iurrmits  of  evaporation  associated  with  electricity,  which  we 
find  af'  dbmcratcd  in  the  atmosphere  as  masses  ot  clouds,  fogs, 
mists  These  masses  of  clouds  acquiring  their  electricities 

bv  induction,  become  oppositely  electrified  accordmg  to  tlieir 
elevation  in  the  atmosphere  above  the  earth,  and  as  they 
armi'oaeh  each  other  in  their  movements,  an  electric  discharp 
takes  place,  a decomposition  of  the  watery  vapour  oeenrs,  the 
Imlro-cn  ^s  is  burnt  in  the  oxygen  gas  ot  the  decomposed 
i?abw°di«pWing  that  bright  yellow  light  peculiar  to  hydrogen, 
in  flashes  so  dazzling  that  if  they  were  not  so  eyaneseGnt  no 


w 


forces  of  the  atmosphere,  descend  to  the  earth  as  s -' I'ncal 
drops  to  meet  and  mingle  with  the  magnetism  of  t'e*  ■:  u’tli. 
These  drops  of  water  are  what  we  call  rain. 

. If  it  were  not  for  the  upward  pressure  oftlio  v^-atcr-  c the 
'ocean  from  their  lowest  depth,  how  long  would  the  ci  ;;  h of 
earth  beneath  them,  (computed  by  physicists  to  be  rcho  :-.  ir  to 
tlic  mass  of  the  earth  no  thicker  than  aji  egg  sir  'll  iss  as  lien 
compared  to  the  mass  of  albumen  that  it  contains,)  he  a ble  to 
sustain  the  pressure  dowiiAA’ards  of  a mass  of  water  fi'oui  five 
to  ten  miles  in  depth  as  it  moves  in  its  tides,  its  currm-rs,  and. 
the  rotation  of  the  earth  upon  its  axis,  and  as  it  rolls,  in  it::  rbit  ? 
AVould  not  the  momentum  of  such  a ma.ss.of  Avators  b ^ , put 
in  motion,  in  the  course  of  time  tliat  has  elai>  -cd  sii;  ' they 
Avero  gathered  in  seas  and  oceans,  Avear  aAvay  so  m uc  : c * the 
earth’s  crust  as  to  allow”  the  Avatets  to  flood  the  iutc  ri  •:  Arcs 
of  the  earth,  aod  produce  explosions  that  would  slii  -o  t the 
planet  into  thou.sands  of  fragments?  Ami  does  m tliiB 
lurnish^another  argument  against  the  d.oetrir-o  of  grav'; . . .ion? 
Tlie  same  principle  apjilies  relatiA'e  to  the  upvT.rd  pr  >;  i.re  of 
the  atmosphere.  In  the  cases  of  the  waters  of  tbc  v ^ and 
the  atmosphere — both  being  fluids,  difiering  ho  w . V‘  r • Tielr 
tenuity,  their  molecules  havei  great  mobilityam oug  ;-.h..':..;o...]ves 
rcspcctiAxdy,  and. from  the  irregular  and  unequal  lip'; ...  .1  and 
doAs'uward  magnetic  attractions  and  repulsions,  tbe.'e  mole- 
cules are  displaced  and  turned  aside,  changing  Iho  uiv.  ctions 
ot  their  poles  and  their  axes,  and  thus  becoming  din-m  ignetia 
or  horizontalh''  magnetic,  creating  thns:  the  lateral  prV  -sures 
exi.sting  both  in  the  Avater.and  the  atmosphere. 

d\’'lieu,  from  the  mobility  of  the  molecules  in  the  crust  of 
tlio  earth  at  the  period  of-  the  planet  beiiig  lauiiobo'l  into 
space  in  its  rotary  motion  on  its  axes,  ai;d  its  pvogr.-sjivc 
motion  in  its  orbit,  the  ecpiatorial  diameter  Avas,  by  m 'uuetic 
attraction  and  repulsion,  increased  tAventy-six  miles  nr  tro  rhan 
the  polar  diameter,  the  same  influences  repel) c^d  tfom  the 
polos  respectively  and  attracted  to  the  respective  opjiosite 
poles  the  waters  in  the  arctic  and  antarctic  basins  till  they 
met  in  the  tropics.  . . 

The  upward  pressure  of  these  waters,  their  polar  currents 
of,  cold  Avater  at  great  depths,  and  the  rotation  of  tlte  earth  . 
on  its  axis  from  west  to.  east,  haA’e  united  in  forcing  the 
masses  of  oceanic  waters  to  the  AvestAvard  till  they  impinged 
upomthe  eastern  coasts  of  America  and  of  Asia— aet’ou  and 


140 


re-action  lioing  equal;  those  waters,  after  their  impact' with 
these  cuijstf!  uixd.  tlieir  coutiguous  ialands,  were  reflected  hack 
again  ::.>v:!ird3  the  western  coasts  of  Europe  and  Africa,  and 
mooting  uiidway  .in  oceans,  the- succeeding  waves  of  those 
waters  have  risen  above  the  general  level  of  the  oceans  a few 
feet,  which  has  been  called  a tide,  and  which  has  been 
attributed  erroneously  to  the  attraction  of  the  sun  and  moon 
instead  of  to  the  forces  which  I have  mentioned  above. 

The  impact  of  these  waters  in  mid-ocean  throws  back  to  the 
Europoau  and  African  waters,  coming  from  thence  and  to 
eastern  h.tucx’ican  and  Asixxtic  coasts,  the  waters  attracted 
there  by  die'  rotary  motion  of  the  earth  on  its  axis — and  thus 
they  f(vrc(>back  in  all  these  continents  the  waters  of  the  rivers 
emptying  iiicmsolves  into  the  oceans,  creating  in  them  the 
tides,'  the  causes  ofl which  never  before  have  been  satisfactorily 
explained.  These  tides,  therefore,  are  the  results  of  the 
magnetic  attraction  and  repulsion  of  the  waters  and  the  coasts 
of  'the  continents  where  they  are  seen  and  felt — and  are  not 
affected  at  all,  either  by  sun  or  moon. ' 

The  *cxi.iTent8  of  the  , Mediterranean  sea — ^the  upper  one 
inwards  is  the  result  of  the  pressure  of  the  Atlantic  ocean  in 
its  roiiux  from  the  mid  ocean  impact  of  the  oceanic  waters, 
the  lower  current  running  into  the  Atlantic  ocean— is  pi’o- 
duced  by  the  upward  pressure  of  the  Mediterx’anexxn  waters 
and  tli'.-  niagnetio  attraction  of  the  colder  polar  current  at  great 
depth  tow  ards  the  equatoi’. 

The  heat  of  the  earth  ascends  perpendicularly  to  the  hori- 
zon.' It  cannot,  therefore,  be  deflected  to  any  considerable 
extent  in  producing  winds  or  cui’rents  of  air.  These  result 
from  electrical  ^and  magnetic  attractions  and  repulsions — the 
upward  pressure  of  the  air,  which  is  nothing  more  than  the 
magnetic  repulsion  of  it  from  the  earth — having  their  similar 
poles  of  magnetism  adjacent,  until  .by  induction  the  polai-ity 
of  the  air  is  changed  in  the  higher  atmosphere,  where,  heiiig 
intensely,  cold,  it  is  attenuated  by  the  repellent  qualities  of  its 
Eomqgeueous  magnetism,  and  not  by  the  low  degree  of  its 
temperatufo,-  which  happens  to  be  coincident  wuth  its  mag- 
netism, but  is  incapable  of  condensing  the  molecules  of  the 
atmosphere. 

'"SYlieix  we  remember  the  law  of  attraction  and  repulsion  of 


141 


ms'gnefism,  viz:  that  it  acts  irsversely  as  the  sq.vii’c  of  the 
ch.si-anec,  and  that  the  earth,  its  oceans  and- its'  atmcsph ove.  are 
all  magnetic,  and  mutually  attract  and  rep-1  each  otiier  accord- 
mg  to  this_ law— which,  by  the  way,  is  the-.sanie  -aw  that 
^ Is  ewtou  assigned  to  the  gravity  of  matter— and  Avh  ai  we  fur- 
ther remember  that  they  are  all  in  contiguity  with  ea';I  v'xer 
v/e  cannot  fail  to  conceive  that  thi^  planet  hr.=<  .,1  the 
forces  within  and  around  it  that  are  necessary  fcu'  ti,e  per- 
formance of  all  its  functions  without  attributing  tliem  to  the 
actions  of  such  distant  orbs  as  the  sun  and  the  moon.  If  the 
moon,  as  our  astronomers  assert,  exerts  a greater  isifluence 
upon  the  tides  than. does  the  sun,  owing  to  the  giaruor  dis- 
tance of  the  sun  from  the  earth,  by  a parity  of  reason  in  cq  how 
much  more  influential  must  the  earth  itself  he  w‘nh  is  in 
contact  both  with  its  waters  and  its  atmosphere.  Aii  fluids 
Tvben  acted  upon  by  unequal  forces  assume  a spiral  c-.nrse,  a3 
witness  the  whirlwind  in  the  atmosphere,  aiid  the  vllrlnool 
and  eddying  currents  in  the  waters.  The  currents  of  the 
oceans  are  spiral  curves  modified  in  their  curvatures  by  the 
fixed  as-  well  as  movable  obstacles  they  encounter  in  their 
several  courses. 

When  a wave  at  sea  has  reached  its  crest,  why  does  it  curl 
over  and  break  into  spray,  as  it  descends  into  the  :>-f>ugh  of 
the  sea?  If  the  moon  lifts  it  up  why  does  not  the  ’nocirfhold 
if  up  ? Wlieu  a wave  breaks  on  the  shore,  why  does  It  cling 
to  the  'eai’th,  and  recede  in  contact  with  it  as  thoundertow,fre- 
quently  carrying  with  it  to  destruction  the- incautious  or  un- 
skilful swimmer  ? Why  does  not  the  moon  keep  tlds  water 
cn  the  surface  instead  of  suffering  it,  though  it  he  warmer 
tlian  the  water  at  greater  depths,  to  seek  its  company 
against  an  assunied  law  of  physics,  that  the  warmer  fluia  floats 
upon  the  colder  ? 

Wliy,  in  the  whirlpool,  does  the  warm  surface  water  rush 
down  its  spiral  coils  to  meet  and  mingle  with  the  colder  water 
of  the  greater  depths  ? And  why  does  this  cold  water  ascend 
ill  counter  spirals  to  meet  the  descending  warmer  water? 
This  action  is  not  caused  by  gravitation ; it  is  magnetic,  and 
so  it  is  also  in  the  whirlwind.  The  warm  air  of  the  lower 
atmosphere,  in  contact  with  the  earth,  is  taken  up  in  its  spiral 
coils,  attracted  by  the  opposite  magnetism  of  the  upiier  air, 
which  descends  in  opposite  spiral  coils  to  meet  it  in  its* ascent, 
and  together  the  column  of  whirling  air,  repelled  from  its 


142 


Gom’cc  and  carried  over  the  surface  of  the  earth,  but  in  con- 
tact V,  itli  it,  vii  h a resistless  impetuosity,  by  the  electrical 
curi\  111  v/liich  lias  developed  the  magnetism  of  the  column, 
devasmres  and  -^c^>t^ln7S  every  obstacle  that  lies  in  its  course, 
till  the  magnetic  equilibrium  is  again  attained, -wheu  a calm 
ensues.  In  tlicse  hsstances  of  the  whirlpool  and  tlie  whirl- 
wind, the  assumed  law  of  gravitation  is  violated  by  the  ascent 
of  tVic.  Avarm  air  into  the  colder  upper  atmosphere,  as  well  as 
hy  tl  e descent  of  the  warm  surface  water  to  the  deptlis  holow; 
thus  proving  that  the  motions  of  fluids,  whether  gaseous  or 
liquiO;  are  controlled  hy  magnetism. 

A balloon  charged  with  hydrogen  gas,  and  released  from  its 
fasten.: /ig  to  tlie  earth,  ascends  rapidly  into  the  upper  atmo- 
sphci  c — the  region  of  intense  cold,  wdicre,  as  we  arc  taught  in 
the  scnools,  it  should  he  condensed,  and  the  sides  of  the 
halh‘  >1:  should  ho^ioose  and  pressed  inward  by  the  condensing 
power  of  tlic  cold  in  that  elevated  region.  x\ccording  to  the 
doctrii  c of  gravitation  it  has  ascended  because  it  was  filled 
with  iiVdroL’on  gas — the  lightest  • substance  in  nature — and 
evorv  light  substaucc  floats  upon  any  other  substance  heavier  ■ 
than  itself. 

Inow,  let  us  sec  what'actually  takes  place  in  the  balloon, 

jPp’S',  The  hydrogen  gas  is  positively  electrified,  and  is  at- 
tract al  to  tiio  upper  atmosphei’6  hy  'its  opposite  electricity, 
which  is  negative.  , 

(SW-c-.v/i,  'The  balloon  itself  is  painted  and  varnished  with 
giimo  to  retain  the  hydrogen  gas,  which  pigments  and  varnish 
are  ai  jo  positively  electrified  smd  assist  in  raising  the  balloon. 

Third,  The  higher  the  balloon  ascends-  the  greater  is  the  at- 
traction of  the  negative  electricity  of  the  upper  air  for  it. 

Presently  a conjunction  of  these  opposite  electricities  of  the 
upper  vir  .Ind  the  positively  electrified  gummed  surface  of  the 
halhroo  ocimrs,  heat  and  magnetism  are  evolved,  the  canvas 
of  tl: balloon  begins  to  expand,  and  within  it  the  hydrogen 
gas  also  expands  to  fill  and  to  tighten  the  canvas.  The  at- 
traction from  without  and  the  expansion  of  the  hydrogen  gas 
within  distend  the  canvas  to  its  fullest  extent.  Should  the 
^eroiiiiat  not.  at  once  opcji  the  safety  valve  of  the  balloon,  and 
'liberate  a portion  of  the  hydrogen  gas  within  it,  these  forces 
would  burst  the  canvas  and  precipitate  the  unlucky  aeronaut 


143 


-to  tlio  o n-th,  a catastroplic  whicli  reallj  happened  in  J£ri.e;., 
only  a few  days  since. 

TIio  ascent,  of  the  halloon,  the  expansion  of  its  canvas  an  i 
oftlie  hydrogen  gas  within  it  instead  of  their  condensation  bv 
•the  extreriie  cold  of  the  upper  atmoopherc,  the  bursting  of  d*e 
halloujx — ail  contradict  the  2s'cwtoniau  theory., 

"We  will  now  explain  why  the  temperature  on  the  surih  's 
of  tlie  earth  is  greater  during  sununer,  though  the  sun  ns 
then  -at  its  greatest  distance  from  the  earth,  than  it  is  in 
winter,  v.hen  the  distance  between  the  earth  and  the  sun  is  at 
the  least,  being  three  millions  of  miles  lees  than  it  was  at  the 
sumnier  scdstice — viz:  June  21st.  On  this  day  the  ravs  ot 
sunlight,  vertical  at  the  tropic  ot  Cancer,  impinging'through- 
the  ann ' -phere  upon  the  surface  of  the  earth,  with  a velocity 
of  18hyt  ) luilcs  per  second,  produce  groat  friction.  This 
friction  is  the  result  of  the  impact  of  all  the  rays  of  sunlight 
upon  tiiC  earth’s  surface.  This  friction  evolves  ,mor'o  elec- 
tricity in  the  contact  than  it  docs  in  winter,  when  the  ang!-j 
of  iiic;  .leuce  of  the  rays  of  light  is  very  much  m-uc  acute, 
and  a 'hoi-ge  portion  of  the  rays  of  light  arc  at  >hat  tirne 
reliecicd  and  refracted  into  planetary  space,  witliout  •deveiop- 
ing  tho  electricity  either  in  quantity  or  tension,  winch- tho 
whole  quantity  of  rays  of  light  would  do  if  they  reached  tlie 
earth  directly.  Consequently  as  the  electricity  evolved  is  less 
in  wintor,  tlie  heat  which  +his  electricity  produces  in  coujnnc-  ' 
tioii  witi-;  the  opposite  electricity  of  the  earth’s  surface  is  much 
loss,  and  the  temperature  is  therefore  lower  iu  ’.yiuter  than-  in 
summer.  - , 

Besides,  the  vertical  impact  of  matter  upon  matter,  as  of  ligur  ' 
upon  t:  ic  -dmosphere,  or  upon  the  surface  of  the  earth,  is  always 
more  vit  .[eiit,  and  produces  more  friction  than  its  impact  from  a?? 
acute  angle,  or  as  it  is  called  a “ glancing  blow,’’  would  do, 
hence  more  electricity  results  from  the  friction  produced  l>y 
the  vertical  impact  of  light,  than  there  -would  be  frou-  its  ini~ 
pact  ox  tin  acute  angle.  The.declinacior.  of  the  sun,  th  ' o-  fore, 
by  coii.^tautly  changing  the  angles  of  incidence  of  iis  ligiit,  as. 

It  entt^rs  our  atmosphere,  and  impinges  upon  the  eartli’.-  s;  "- 
face,  iS  the  cause  of  the  changes  of  the  terrestrial  temperature 
at  the  several  seasons  of  the  year.  Hence  the  more  vertical 
the  light,  the  more  friction  is  developed  in  its  impact  with-cho 
earth,  and  the  more  electricity  thus  evolved,  and  the  more  - 
heat  produced  by  the  conjunction  of  the  opposite  electricities 
from  the  light  and  earth. 


144 


•\t  the  height  of  five  miles  or  more  above  the  earth,  when 
of  clouda  oppositely  electriiied  come  together,  great 
I'eat  is  evolved  by  tlie  union  of  these  electiicities,  and  with  it 
is  also  developed  magnetism ; the  air  of  the  cloud  thus  heated 
becomes  positively  electriiied,  aud  greatly  expanded  by  the 
l:i;.it,  it  rushes  upwards  attracted  by  the  negative  electricity  of 
I’iC  atmosphere  above  it,  abandoning  the  watery  vapour  it  had 
•.•ontained  in  suqjcnsiou,' and  which  absorbing  tlie  magnetism 
developed  by  the  union  of  the  opposite  electricities  begins  to 
irill  towards  the  earth,  not  by  gravitation  but  by  the  magnetic 
repulsion  of  the  surromiding  air,  and  the  magnetic  attraction 
< f the  earth  itself  and  the  waters  on  its  surface.  At  the  same 
time,  wben  this  conjunction  of  opposite  electricities  occurs, 
much  of  the  watery  vapour  that  the  clouds  hold  in  susponsiou 
is  decomposed  by  the  superior  attraction  of  the  intense  elee- 
tneity  for  the  hydrogen  gas  of  the  water,  which  is  immediately 
burnt  in  the  oxygen  gas  that  had  been  liberated  by  the 
de  composition  of  the  watery  particles  of  the  clouds  in  the  first 
place.  This  inflamed  hydrogen  burning  with  a yellow  light, 
rushes  to ' embrace  again,  its  lover,  oxygen  gas,  pursuing  it  iu 
those  brilliantly  illuminated  zig-zag  courses  which  we  call 
flashes  of  lightning. 

Xow  as  these  conjunctions  of  opposite  electricities  arc  suc- 
cessive in  a storm,  we  see  the  frequent  flashes  of  lightning 
aud  hear  the  rolling  of  the  thunder,  (which  latter  is  merely 
1b 3 noise  of  the  explosions  of  oxygen  aud  hydrogen  gases, 
v'hen  acted  upon  by  a current  of  electricity  passing  through 
them,)  as  they  dart  or  roll  through  the  atmosphere.  The 
v.uucr  thus  formed,  starting  in  sheets  or  columns  as  it  may  be, 
is  at  once  disintegrated,  by  the  repulsion  of  the  magnetism 
winch  it  has  absoi-bed,  into  atoms  or  globules,  each  ofwhich- 
is  a separate  magnet.  These  arc  repelled  by  the  mugnetism 
of  the  upper  atmosphere,  and  arc  attracted  by  the  opposite 
magnetism  of  the  earth  aud  its  waters,  and  continue  to  descend 
to^vardc  the  earth,  but  the  molecules  of  atmospheric  air  are 
also  magnets,  and  repel  and  retard  the  descent  of  the  rain 
drops  as  they  fall,  and  these  force's  continue  to  dimmish  their  . 
sizes,  till,  on  approaching  the  earth,  they  arc  so  comminuted, 
that  frequently  they  become  absorbed  by  the  atmosphere  and 
appear  as  mist  and  fog. 

. IS'ow,,  if  rain  falls  by  gravitation,  beginning,'  at  that  great 
height  of  five  dr  more  miles,  to  descend  in  the  first  second  of 
time  IG.l  feet,  in  the  next  32.2  feet,  in  third  second  C4.4  feet, 


14o 


in  the  fourth  second  00.6  feef,  increasing,  its  velocity  as4he 
time  of  descent  and  the  space  through  which  it  passed  as  the 
square  of  the  time,  it  would  be  found  tliat  its  velocity  and 
momentum,  when  it  reached  the  earth,  would  be  so  ei-eat  as 
to  wash  the  soil  into  the  seas,  deuu<''r.g  mountains  and  dis- 
integratino^  rocks,  and  destroying  every  living  object  on  the 
planet.  We  see  on  a small  scale  the  devastating  power  of  a 
waterspout  that  breaks  and  discharges  its  contents  when 
traveling  only  a short  distance  above  .the  earth.  Besides  it  is 
P.  to  see  the  retardatory  effect  of  magnetism  upon 

the  Hakes  of  snow  as  they  fall  lazily  to  the  earth,  each  crystal 
Ot  the  snow  flake,  or  frozen  water,  being  acknow]cci^>-cd  as  a 
magnet  endowed  with  its  full  proportion  of  m.^cnetic  power. 


These  facts,  prove  that  neither  the  cTouds,  that  float  in  the 
atmosphere  nor  the  waters  thcv  contain,  which  have  been 
taken  up  by  ovaporatiou  from  the  rivers,  lakes  and  seas,  and 
winch  .are  again  returned  to  them  in  rain,  snow  and  hail,  are 
aiiected  by  the  so-called  laws  of  gravitation.  Conceive  for  a 
moment  that  the  volume  of  w'ater  of  the  it^iagara  river  which 
passes  over  the  falls,  should,  by  gi’avitation,  descend  from  a 
height  offwo,  three  or  five  miles- above  the  earth,  the  eoramoii 
height  of  clouds;  then  imagine  the  destruction  that  wmuld 
follow^  such  a descent;  and  ;)X't  vrater  from  clouds  start  in  their 
courses- towards  the  earth  in  masses  so  gx-eat  as  to  divindle 
111  comparison  the  mighty  stream  of  Magara  at  the  falls,  and 
yet  only  benefit  results  from'  the  rainfall.  Why,  then,  docs 
the  water  from  the  clouds  not  continue  to  fall,  as  it  has  started 
in  these  enormous  masses?  It  is  because  the  Creator  has 
beneficently  provided  against'  such  a calamity  by  investino- 
water  with  magnetism,  %vhen  its  constituents,  oxygen  and 
gases,  are  combined  by^hc  passage  of  a current  of 
electricity  through  them,  iu  the  formation  of  water,,  and  the 
atoms  or  globules  of  w-ater,  being  each  magnetic,  repel  each 
other,  and  are  repelled  from  the  upper  atmorohere — also 
magnetic  -and  are  attracted  to  the  earth  by  its  opposite  ma^^- 
netism,  allowing  rain,  snow  and  hail  to  fall  gently  and  m 
small  particles  to  the  earth,  lienee  the  greater  the  height  of 
the  clouds  from  which  the  rain  falls,  the  smaller  and  "more 
attenuated  wfiU  be  the  rain  drops  in  arriving  at  the  earth. 
Mists  and  fogs,  therefore,  are  as  frequently  the  results  of  raiii 
falling  from  very  high  clouds,  as  they  are  from  evaporation  at 
the  surface  of  the  earth  or  oceau. 


Melted  lead  oa  the  top  of  a shot  tower  is  positively  electri* 


#- 


fled— the  air  around  it  negatively  electrified.  The  lead  in 
■falling  repels  itself  ami  is  attracted  Ijy  the  opposite  electricity 
of  the_^air,  causing  it  to  separate  and  to  assume  the  spherical 
form  of  shot  on  reaching  the  vessels  to  receive  it  at  the  bottom 
of  the  tower.  So  that  we  may  attribute  the  spherical  or 
spheroidal  forms  of  rain  drops,  of  meteors,  and  of  the  planets 
themselves,  to  the  forces  of  magnetism. 

. Let  us  take  a east  iron  spherical  shot  of  the  calibre  of  twenty- 
four  pounds,  and  heat  it  to  a nearly  white  heat;  then  let  us 
select  the  lightest  down  from  the  common  thistle  that  we  can 
find ; we  will  then  sliake  some  handfuls  of  it  over  the  hot  shot 
at  the  distance  cf  three  feet  above  it.  It  will  he  found  that 
notwithstanding  what  is  called  the  attraction  of  gravitation, 
not  only  of  the  heavy  shot  but  also  of  the  still  heavier  earth 
on  wdiich  it  is  supported,  the  down  will  he  carried  upwards 
into  the  atmosphere  fiy  the  current  of  heated  air  radiated  from 
the  hot  surface  of  the  shot,  instead  of  falling  either  upon  it  or 
■on  the  earth  immediately  adjacent  to  it.  If,  therefore,  this 
heated  shot  repels  some  of  the  lighest  flocculent  matter  of  which 
■we  have  any  knowledge,  and  will  not  allow  it  to  fall  upon  the 
earth  in  opposition  to 'the  radiating  power  of  its  heat,  what 
becomes  of  the  gravitati,on  of  the  earth  and  of  the  other  })lanct?, 
and  of  cemetary  matter,  &c;,  to  the  sun,  if  this  latter  is  an 
'incandescent  body  of  a temperature  so  high  that  wo  cannot 
really,  conceive  of  its  actual  intensity?  If  the  lightest  sub’^ 
■stance,  so-called,  cannot  be  attracted  by  it  through  such 
.excessive  radiation  of  its  heat,  how  can  it  attract  the  lieaviest 
•planets  ? "VVhat  also  becomes  of  its  magnetism  in  the  presence 
of. such  intensity  of  heat?  It  is  evident  that  this  great  heat 
could  not  co-exist  with  the  magnetic  forces  of  the  sun,  ■which 
' are  thought  to  control  the  movements  of  our  solar  system. 

Let  us  observe  a l)oy  on  an  August  day,  when  the  ther- 
■mometer  indicates  98°  of  Fahrenheit,  in  a room  with  closed 
•doors  and  window  sashes  so  as  to  admit  no  disturbing  currents 
of  air,  while  he  amuses  liimself  with  blowing  soap  bubbles 
from  the  bowl  of  a clay  pipe.  "When  the  bubble  is  formed, 
and  it  is  sufficiently  thin,  lie  throws  it  ofl“  from  the  bowl  of 
•his  pipe.  The  circumference  of  the  bubble  interrupted  by  the 
bowl  of  the  pipe,  as  soon  as  it  is-  detached  therefrom,  closes 
upon  itself  by  magnetic  attraction,  and  forms  a nearly  perfect 
sphere,  while  it  ascends  rapidly  towards  the  ceiling  of  the  room. 
Mark  the  play  of  iridescent  colours  on  its  surface  as  it  receives 
the  light  from  a window,  just  as  the  suu  receives  the  separate 


147 


rays  of  light  from  the  stars  and.  reflects  them  to  the  earth,  ke. 
Now  why  does  this  bubble  ascend  in  ^;he  atmosphere  ? The 
water  and  the  soap  of  the  bubble,  as  wel.l  as  the  component 
parts  of  the  soap  are  eachvheavier  than  the  warm  air  of  the 
room.  _ The  gas  that  fills  its  interior,  composed  of  vapour  and 
carbonic  acid^gas  from  the  lungs  of  the  boy,  is  also  in  its  com- 
ponents heavier  than  the  same  air,  and  is  also  probably  of  a 
lower  temperature  than  the  air,  which  is  98°  of  Fahrenheit, 
and  yet  the  bubble,  in  defiance  of  the  so-called  laws  of  gravita- 
tion, ascends  to  the  ceiling,  instead  of  descending  to  the  floor. 

If  what  astronomers  tell  us  is  correct,  the  density  of  the  sun 
is  about  one-fourth  of  that  of  the  earth,  and  cannot  relatively 
be  so  great,  volume  for  volume,  as  that  of  this  soap  bubble. 
Water  is  the  standard  measure  of  density;  potash  and  soda  in 
salts,  component  parts  of  this  soap  bubble,  have  each  a greater 
density  than  water,  while  the  oil  associated  with  them'^in  the 
soapy  water  is  perhaps  less  than  that  of  water,  while  the 
density  of  the  soapy  water  is  greater  than  that  of  the  sun. 
Now  the  earth,  with  all  its  power  of  alleged  gravitation,  could 
not  prevent  this  soap  bubble  from  asgending'in  the  air.  Xow 
why  Avas  this  ? The  globules  ■ of  soapy  water  Avere  held 
together  in  the  bubble  by  the  viscous  character  of  its  oily  par- 
ticles, which  having  an  "opposite  electric  condition  to  that  of 
■ the  Avater,  attracted  it  to  complete  the  circumference  of  the 
bubble  when  it  wvas  detached  from  the  bowl  of  the  pipe,  while 
the  magnetism  of  the  whole  bubble,  repelled  by  that  of  the 
eai-th,  caused  it  to  ascend  into  the  upper  air  by  the  attraction 
■of  the  magnetism  existing  there. 

Now  conceive  of  a soap  bubble  1,400,000  times  greater  in 
its  dimensions  than  the  earth,  to  be  placed  in  one  of  the  foci 
of  the  earth’s  orbit,  and  then  imagine  it  to  exert  its  gravitatino’ 
power  upon  the  earth,  and  estimate  the  result.  If  the  earth 
could  not  attract  by  gravitation  this  soap  bubble  in  the  room 
referred  to,  what  power  would  the  big  soap  bubble  have  to 
attract  the  earth  by  its  gravitation,  when  their  positions  Avould 
be  reversed  ? ’ 

The  undulatory  theory  of  light  is  faulty  in  this,  that  every 
wave  requires  a resisting  medium  to  lift  it  above  the  common 
level.  In  water,  when  any  force  disturbs  its  surface,  the 
inertia  of  the  water,  against  which  the  surface  water  is  driven, 
offers  a resistance  by  which  the  surface  water  is  raised  into  a 
wave,  but  in  all  such  cases  the  velocity  of  the  force  is  small ; 


148 


wlion  tho  velocity  of  the  wiml,  for  instance,  is  one  hundred 
and  fifty  miles  per  hour,  it  carries  off  the  surface  water  into 
spray,  until  sufficient  time  has  elapsed  to  allow  the  inertia  of 
the  mass  of  water  to  resist  the  impulse  of  the  wind,  when 
waves  are  formed.  Kow  if  tho  ether  of  interplanetary  and 
interstellar  spaces  furnished  such  a medium  of  resistance  it 
would  not  admit  of  the  passaj^e  of  light  through  it,  with  its 
inconceivable  velocity  of  186,000  miles  per  sc'crmd.  If  tho 
ether  itself  was  luminous,  some  force  of  very  low  velocity  must 
impinge  upon  it  to.  make  its  undulations,  and  to  be  undula- 
tions they  must  meet  with  resistance  to  become  such  ; besides 
all  undulations  occur  on  the  surfaces  of  fluids,  and  extend  but 
a short  distance  below  the  surfaces ; but  ether  of  space  has  no 
dimensions,  it  is  illimitable:  no  one- can  say  where  is  its 
surface;  neither  words  nor  figures  can  define  its  depth,  width 
or  height,  and  as  all  niotions  through  it  are  of  inconceivably 
high  velocities,  it  follows  that  there  can  be  no  undulations  in 
it,  as  they  arc  produced  by  low  velocities. 

Sunlight,  on  a bright  July  day,  falling  in  its  greatest  in- 
tensity upon  the  calm  and  placid  siirface  of  an  expanse  of  water, 
piuictrates  it  and  descends- to  very  great -depths  below  it, 
Avithout  producing  the  ^slightest  undulation  on  its  surface,  or 
movement  wdthin  its  masses.  .'Its  velocity  is  so  great  that  no 
ap[ireciablc  time  is  afforded  for  the  disturbance  of  the  inertia 
ot  ibc  Avater.  So  it  is  A\'itli  the  ether  of  interstellar  and  inter- 
planetary space.  Thin,  subtle,  and  attenuated,  as  this  ether 
may  be  supposed  to  be,  the  vcl()city  of  light  in  passing  through 
it  is  so  transcendently  groat  that  there  Is  no  time  for  the  dis- 
turbance of  its  inertia,  and  consequently  its  motion  is  instantly 
absorbed  by  the  masfe  of  the  ether,  without  producing  any 
undulation  whateA’er,  jSToav  undulation  is  a superficial  act. 
There  is  no  Avave  at  sea  of  a greater  depth  below  the  surface 
than  forty’ feet;  all  beloAv  that  depth  is  unaffected  by  AA'hat- 
cver,  cause  that  may  have  produced  the,  superficial  Avavc. 
The  great  Leviathan  of  tho  deep,  ninety  or  one  hundred  ’feet 
long  and  of  other  corresponding  dimensions,  plunges  beneath 
the  surface  of  the  ocean  when  struck  by  a .harpoon,  and  Avith 
inconceivable  speed  rushes  into  tho  depths  below,  yet  he  leaves 
no  Avave,  no  ripple,  to  indicate  the  course  he  has  taken,  and 
the  whalemen  in  his  pursuit  have  to  scan  the  horizon  in  every 
direction  to  ascertain  the  place,  sometimes  a great  distance  off, 
where  he  has  risen  to  the  surface  of  the  ocean  to  blow  off  his 
surplus  electricity  and  carbonic  acid  gas  generated  in  his 
lungs.  So  it  is  Avith  all  the  fishes  and  marine  animals  that 


149 


i 

;v,.  inhabit  the  great  deep.  Their  motions,  however  slow  or  swift, 

p ; develop  no  undulations  beneath  the  surface,  and  consequently 

■ none  appear  on  the  surface;  there  are,  therefore,  no  undula- 
I tioiis  below  a depth  of  forty  feet  from  the  surface. 

Geographers  inform  us  that  three-fourths  of  the  outer  crust 
of  the  earth  are  covered  by  water,  only  one-fburth  bein^  dry 
|>  land.  Of  this  fourth  part  but  a small  portion  is  habitahie  by 
^ ■ animals,  and  a still  smaller  part  thereof  is  actuallv  occupied 

J . by  them,  while  the  waters  of  the  earth  are  teeniing  every- 

■ where  with  animal  life.  Innumerable  myriads  of  fishes,  marine 
, ■ animals,  and  sea  monsters  are^  known  to’  exist  beneath  the 
surface  of  these  waters;  their  speed  in  pursuing  qr  avoiding 
b each  other,  as  they  rush  madly  through  them,  should  greatly 
disturb  their  even  surfaces,  but  whatever  agitations  may  occur 
F in  the  depths  of  the  ocean  from  these  causes,  no  trace  of  tliem 
f ever  is  seen  on  its  surface;  there  is  no  undulation  from  such 

^ causes.  ^ 'Why?  The  reason  is  obvious.  Fluids  press  equally 

j.  in  all  directions.  The  inertia  of  the  great  mass  of  waters  is 

'v  not  to  be  disturbed  by  the  passage  of  even  ‘innuraeralde 

i _ objects  of  small  dimensions  at  whatever  speed  they  may  attain. 

The  same  principle  obtains  in  relation  to  the  ether  of  planetary 
space.  This  planet  rolling  in  its  orbit  with  a velocity  of  sixty- 
^ - eight  thousand  miles  per  hour,  through  this  ether,  does  not 

; aud  eannot  disturb  the  inertia  of  the  whole  ether  of  space ; the 

r motion  of  the  part  displaced  by  the  earth  and  its  atmosphere 

^ . is  absorbed  at  once  by  the  whole  mass,  and  its  inertia  remains 

[ unaffected;,  and  so  it  is  with  all  the  planets,  and  even  the  sun 

: itself.  The  sun’s  motion  in  its  orbit  being  14,400  miles  per 

hour,  the  moon  advaucing  in  her  orbit  at  the  rate  of  65.000 
t miles  per  hour,  and  so  on  with  the  rest  of  the  planets,  their 

y enormous  velocities  will  not- admit  of  the  disturbance  of  the 

h inertia  of  the  ether  of  space  before  the  planet  has  left  the  ether 

b far  behind  through  which  it  has  passed.  The  retardation  of 

I eometary  matter  in  its  course  is  not  due  to  the  resistance  of  the 

h 1 through  which  it  18  passing,  for  if  it  was  it  would  be 

y uniformly  and  continuously  retarded  in  its  whole  course,  and 

> ' not  merely  as  it  is  approaching  or  leaving  the  neighborhood 
of  the  sun,  but  it  is  owing  to  the  magnetism  of  the  sun  and 
s the  planets,  as  well  as  of  the  opposite  magnetism  of  the  ether 
^ acting  upon  its  oivn  magnetism,  that  such  variation  in  its 
iv  velocity  has  been  observed.  This  r^ minds  me,  that  when  a 
planet  is  at  its  nearest  point  to  the  sun,  it  is  moving  with  its 
^ greatest  rapidity  in  its  orbit ; and  when  at  its  remotest  point 

b from  the  sun,  it  is  proceeding  at  its  slowest  rate  of  speed  in  its 


150 


orbit;  but  yet  the  orbit  throughout  its  entire  course  is  so 
bahinced  that  the  rapidity  is  exactly  proportional  to  the  near- 
ness, and  the  slowness  to  the  distance  in  reference  to  each,  so 
that  equal  areas  of  the  space  included  in  the  orbit  are  describcii 
by  the  planet  in  equal  times,  which  is  Kepler’s  celebrated 
second  law. 

The  friction  of  the  atmosphere  with  the  ether  in  its  passage 
through  it  evolves  negativ'e  electricitjq  which  is  taken  up  by  the 
atmosphere  by  induction,  and  thus  it  becomes  negatively  electri- 
fied. If  the  planets  cannot,  in  their  rotation  around  the  sun  and 
on  their  respective  axes,  disturb  the  ether  of  space  in  its  inertia, 
how  can  it  be  supposed  that  rays  of  light  passing  throuj^h  it 
with  its  velocity  of  186,000  miles  per  second,  can  cause  it  to 
undulate  ? Time  is  an  element  in  the  production  of  a wave, 
and  in  the  passage  of  light  through  ether  there  is  not  tirne 
enough  to  resist  the  passage  of  light,  in  order  to  produce  it. 
A musket  ball  with  the  initial  velocity  of  1500  feet  per  second, 
when  shot  from  a musket  will  perforate  a door  hanging  on  its 
hinges  without  moving  it,  as  there  is  not  furnished  sufficient 
time'to  disturb  its  inertia  before  the  ball  had  passed  through 
the  door.  So  in  like  manner  a tallow  candle  discharged  from 
a musket  will  pass  through  a door  without  disturbing  its 
position,  while  if  it  should  be  thrown  from  the  hand  against 
the  door  at  the  distance  of  ten  feet  from  it,  its  momentum  at 
such  low  velocity  wmuld  push  the  door  back  to  its  frame. 

Kavs  of  sunlight,  in  passing  through  the  ether  of  space, 
cany  with  thenrtbe  negative  electricity  with  which  they  wore 
repelled  from  the  sun’s  photosphere,  and  continue  to  be 
repelled  by  the  negative  electricity  of  the  intensely  cold 
ether  itself  through  which  they  are  passing,  _ Now  interpose 
a glass  prism  to  the  passage  of  a beam  of  this  sunlight  after 
it  '"has  reached  us  on  the  surfoce  of  the  earth.  This  white 
beam  of  light  is  then  refracted  and  decomposed,  and  each  colour ' 
leaves  the  prism,  diverging  not  only  from  the  original  ray  of 
white  light  of  wffiich  they  are  the  elements,  but  also  from  each 
other,  as  may  be  seen  by  observing  the  spectrum  which  they 
fonn.  This  spectrum  exhibits  these  colours  in  the  order  of 
their  susceptibility  of  refraction,  the  red  being  refracted 
least  and  the  violet  most.  From  its  appearance.  Sir  Isaac 
Newton,  wdio  first  analyzed  it,  thought  that  there  w^ere 
actually  seven  primary  or  distinct  colours  in  the  composition 
of  lia;ht,  but  since  his  day  investigation  and  analysis  have 
determined  that  there  are  but  three  primary  colours,  viz : 


151 


red,  yellow  and  blue,  and  that  Ibe  orange,  green,  incligo  and 
violet,  result  from  a commingling  of  the  primary  colours  in. 
ditferent  degrees  of  intensity,  as  they  form  the  spectrum. 
Iv  ow,  let  us  see  what  causes  this  refraction  and  decompofition 
of  light  by  the  prism.  The  glass  prism  was  positively  electri- 
fied when  the  sunbeam  was  thrown  upon  it;  the  opposite 
electricities  of  the  ligh.t  and  the  glass  were  brought  into 
contact;  heat  and  magnetism  "were  evolved  by  their  union: 
the  glass  was  expanded  by  the  heat,  which  was  immediately 
absorbed  by  the  air  ; the  rays  of  light,  changing  their  electri- 
cities by  induction,  become  p:>ositively  electrified  and  magnetic 
and  repel  each  other,  forming  Newton’s  seven  primary  rays, 
according  to  the  diflerent  degrees  of  positive  electrizatior.  and 
magnetization  they  have  absorbed.  This  explanation  will 
also  account  for  the  invisible  beat  rays  outside  of  the  spectrum, 
which  hf  some  philosophers  have  been  erroneously  supposed 
to  have  come  directly  from  the  sun,  associated  with  its  light. 
Again,  let  us  take  two  pieces  of  flannel  made  of  wool,  yf  the 
same  texture  and' size;  let  one  of  them  be  white  flanue],  the 
other  black  flannel.  Now  white  flannel  has  the  same  electri- 
cal condition  as  white  sunlight,  tliat  is,  negative.  It  conse- 
quently reflects  or  repels  the  sunlight,  according  to  electrical 
laws.  For  this  effect  it  is  extensively  used  by  the  people  of  hot 
countries  for  articles  of  outside  clothing  to  keep  them  cool 
during  sunshine.  Suppose  we  place  these  tw’o  pieces  of 
flaunel.  in  the  winter  time,  on  the  snow,  one  hundred  feet 
apart,  the  temperature  of  the  air  being  at  zero  of  Fahrenheit, 
and  the  sim  shining  brilliantly  through  a clear  atmosphere, 
and  let  us  watch  tlie  effect.  In  a littre  W'hile  it  will  be  seen 
that  the  piece  of  white  flannel  is  frozen  tight  to  the  snow, 
while  the  black  flannel,  haying  absorbed  all  the  rays  of  the 
sunlight  from  its  opposite  electrical  condition,  has  become 
heated  by  the  development  of  the  heat  'from  the  union  of  these 
opposite  eleetricites,  and  the  snow  has  become  melted  under 
the  black  flannel.  This  experiment  proves  that  heat  is  the 
result  of  the  union  of  opposite  electricities  as  in  the  associated 
primary  rays  of  light,  for  the  material  composing  the  two 
pieces  of  flannel  was  similar,  while  the  negatively'electrified 
white  flannel  repelled  the  negative  white  sunlight,  absorbing 
the  cold  of  the  snow  beneath,  and  becoming  frozen  to  it,  as 
the  positively  electrified  black  flannel  attracted  the  negatively 
electrified  wbite  sunlight  developing  the  heat  wdiicb  miclted 
the  snow.  Now  as  fevery  object  in  nature  has  a colour  of  some 
kind,  when  the  sunlight  falls  upon  it,  we  can  understand 
that  the  variations  of  temperature  on  tlie  surface  of  the  earth, 


152 


are  the  immediate  results  of  electrical  action  upon  it  hy  the 
ravs  of  light  us  light  and.  not  hy  rays  of  heat  from  the  sun. 

We  have  thus  shown  you,  that  from  the  attributes- of  heat, 
it  is  i)hvsically  impossible  for  it  to  be  transmitted  to_  this  or 
any  other  planet  from  the  sun  through  an  almost  infinite  sp-.ice  . 
of  ether  at  a temperature  of  —142°  of  centigrade  thermometer.  ■ 

We  have  shown  you  that  the  negative  electricity  of  our 
atmosjfiiere  is  derived  by  induction  from  this  very  cold  ether 
in  the  rotation  of  the  earth  on  its  axis,  and  in  its  motions  in 
its  orbit,  carrying  Avith  it  its  atmosphere  in  its  course. 

Wo  have  shown  you  that  the  atmosphere  is  held  hi  its  pl-aee 
around  the  earth  hy  its  magnetism- and  dia-magnetisni,  -\vliieh 
have  hcen  developed  hy  currents  of  opposite  electrlc'ities  in 
v'onjnnction,  produced  by  the  passage  of  rays  of  light  thr(Uigh  • 
the  atmosphere,  cvolvihg  by  their  friction  with  it  electrnnty 
of  one  kind,  while  the  opposite  kind  of  electricity  has  been  , 
produced  by  the  impact  of  rays  of  light  upoii  the  more  solid 
parts  of. tlie  earth’s  crust  and  upon  its  waters  as  it  developed 
■iheir- evaporation. 

We  have  shown  that  the  attraction  of  matter  on  or  above  the 
earth,  is  through  magnetism  to  the  poles  opposite  respectively 
10  the  hemisphci-es  of  the  earth,  that  it  is  confined' to  the  crust 
of  the  earth,  and  that  it  is  not  the  attraction  of  gravitation. 

We  have  shown  that  the  upward  pressure  of  all  fluids,  from 
capillary  attraction  in  tubes  to  tbe  upivard  pressure  of  tbe' 
waters  of  the  ocean  that  float  tbe  tonnage  of  the  world,  to  that 
of  tbe  atmosphere  which- holds  it  suspended  above. the  surface 
of  the  earth,  is  strictly  magnetic.  We  have  shoivn  that  the 
variations  of  the  barometer  at  the  level 'of  the  sea  are.  not 
occasioned  by  the  varying  -umight  of  the  atmosphere,  but  by 
its  magnetic  condition,  as  those,  of  the  thermometer  are  pro- 
duced by  currents  of  electricity,  ivliich  permeate  the  glass 
tubes  that  contain  the  thcrmoinetric  fluid. 

We  have  shown  that  .all  terrestrial  heat  is  derived  from^  the 
conjunction. of  oppoc.ite  electricities,  whether  proceeding  from 
tbe  combustion,  of  inflammable  substances,  from  friction,  or 
from  the  contact  of  currents  of  air  or  of  gases  oppositely  elec- 
trified. . . ' 

We  have  shown  that  friction  of  substances  of  low  tempera- 
tures produces  negative  electricity,  and  increases  the  cold  by 


153  ' 


tlieir  union,  illustrated  by  two  blocks  of  ice  rubbed  logetb  ■? 
a!ul  uniting  more  firmly  at  tbcir  junction  than  in  any  otln  r 
of  tbeir  parts.  And  tlien  we  have  shown  that  positive  el'i'C- 
trici  ty  is_  always  associated  with  heat,  and  the  opposite  elec- 
tricity with  cold;  that  their  eonj unction  produces  heat  or  cold 
according  as  one  or  the  other  of  the  electricities  predominates 
,at  the  moment  of  their  union ; that  magnetism  is  also  evolved 
by  their  conjunction,  and  that  if  much’heat  is  developed,  the 
magnetism  disappears  and  takes  refuge  in  the  nearest  greater 
cold;  that  magnetism  is  therefore  the  antagonist  of  heat,  and 
is  found  in  its  greatest  intensity  in  extreme  cold,  in  the 
highest  part  of  the  atmosphere,  and  in  the  Arctic  and  Antarc- 
tic regions. 

If  the  atomic  theory  he  true,  and  the  atoms  of  etlier  bo 
spheres  or  oblate  spheroids,  we  may  imagine  that  light  passino- 
in  rays  through  the  intensely  cold  ether,  develops  negative 
eloctrinity  by  its  friction  with  the  ether,  and  that  this  nega- 
tive electricity  resides  in  the  interstitial  spaces  between  the 
atoms  -of  the  ether  until  attracted  by  positive  electricity  of 
greater  or  lesser  volume  and  tension,  their  conjunction  would 
produce  magnetism  which  wmuld  find  a habitat  araoug  those 
interstitial  spaces,  of  the  atoms  of  ether  in  the  poles' of  the 
atoms  themselves. 

From  tne  mobility  of  the  particles  of  fluids,  whether  liquid 
or  gaseous,  it  appears  that  their  tendency  is  to  move  in  spiral 
curves.  In  the  currents  of  ocean, 'sea,  lake  or  river  waters, 

• the  frequency  of  their  curved  direction  is  everywhere  matdfest, 
any  obstruction  to  the  general  direction-  of  their  currents, 
whether  superficial,  or  at  varying  depths  below  the  >:urntce,  is 
sufficient  to  determine  them  into  spiral  curves  of  greater  or 
lesser  curvatures.  It  would  seem  that  this  attribute  of  fluids 
was  intended  by  the  Creator  for  the  evolution  of  currents  of 
electricity  by  the  friction  of  these  T.)articles  of  the  inner  curves 
of  the  spirals,  and  of  magnetism  by  the  passage  of  this  electri- 
city along  the  spirals  of  the  fluids  themselves.  This  is  an 
origin  of  magnetism,  as  well  m the  waters  as  in  the  atmos- 
phere. The  great  currents  of  the  ocean,  swmepiug  in  curves 
greater  than  a great  circle  of  the  earth  itself,  are  only  elements 
of  immense  spirals.  The  circular  motion  of  an  infusion  of 
tea  in  a cup  when  stirred  by  a spoon  to  hasten  the  solution  of 
the  accompanying  sugar,  is  hut  an  illustration  of  the  same 
principle,  and  so  it  is  with  gaseous  fluids.  The  tiny  whirlwind 
that  raises  the  dust  in  summer  in  our  country  roads,  is  but  a 


154 


;?f  in  : currents  of  atmosplaerie  air, from  tlio  gentle  breeze 
( : 't  flvi's  1:8  ill  the  summer  beats  to  the  tornado,  hurricane, 
find  miuhiy  cyedone  that  desolate  the  oceans  and  islands  in 
iii;;eiti  opical  regions.  Thfs  form,  therefore,  in  which  these 
fLu’ds  are  continually  moving,  is  among  the  means  adopted  hy 
the  Creator  to  develop  electricity,  magnetism  and  heat,  oir 
and  above  the  surface  of  our  planet. 

“Let  us  for  a moment  consider  the  action  of  the  two  great 
currents  of  warm  water  on  the  opposite'  coasts  of  K'ortlr 
America.  The  Gulf  Stream  and  the  Japanese  current  through' 
Behring’s  Straits  to  the  Arctic  Ocean.  Let  us  consider  the 
Gulf  Stream.  On  the  Equator,  in  the  Atlantic  Ocean  the 
mean  temperature  of  the  surface  of  the  sea,  according  to 
Ifamtz,.  13  78.6°,  the  average  maximum  in  latitude  6°  north,  is 
80.3°,  the  highest  observed  temperature  in  8°  1',  iiorth,^ 
according  to  Kotzebue,  84.6°,  and  the  mean  temperature  of 
the  oea  between  the  parallels  of  3°  north  and  3°  south,  accord- 
iag  to  Humboldt,  was  from  80.1°  to  82.4°.  The  mean  tempera- 
ture of  the  air  in  the  equatorial  belt  of  the  Atlantic  Ocean 
between  10°  north  and  10°  south,  according  to  Lentz,  is  78.8°.' 
Here'  you  have  the  surface  water  of  the  oceau  in  the 
Equatorial  belt  of  the  Atlantic  Ocean  hotter  by  3.8°  than  air 
just  above  it.  Kow,  if.  these  respective  temperatures  were 
produced  l>y  emanations  of  heat  from  the  sun,  their  condition 
of  temperature  should  ho  reversed,  the  capacity  of  the  air  to 
absorb  heat  being  so  much  greater  than  that  of  water.  This 
fact  proves  that  it  is  not  solar  heat  that  produces  the  tempera- 
ture either  in  the  air  or  water. 

“In  July,  the  course  of  the  Gulf  Stream,  in  latitude  38° 
north, .shows  the  form  of  a tongue  ot  temperature  of  81.6°, 
(at  some  places  even  84°  was  observed.)  This  hot  stream  pro- 
duces itself  as  a double  tongue,  with  a mean  temperature  of 
from  77°  to  81.5°  of  Fahrenheit,  (20°  to  22°  of  Lcaumur,)  to- 
wards the  north  as  far  as  the  40°  of  latitude,  and  towards 
the  east  to  the  43°  of  longitude  west  of  Greenwich,  that  is, 
far  beyond  Newfoundland.  In  January,  the  tongue  of  77° 
of  Fahrenheit,  (20°  of  Keaumur,)  reaches  to  latitude  37°  north 
and  longitude  70°  30'  west,  and  at  the  place  where  tiie  east 
end  of  this  tongue  of  77°  of  Fahrenheit  terminates  in  July, 
we  find  in  Janviary  a temperature  of  62.5°  and  62.8°  of  Fah- 
renheit, (14°  and  i5°  of  Keaumur.) 

“ Up  to  the  meridian  of  the  eastern  end  of  Newfoundland, 
the  Gulf  Stream  proceeds  first  in  an  east  noi’theast,  and  then 
in  an  east  direction  parallel  to  the  American  coast,  with  aju 


average  temperature  in  July  of  77°  to  83.8°  Fahroalieit,  (20° 
to  23°  Reaumur,)  and  in  Januaiy,  of  68°  to  77°  Fahi'enheit, 
(16°  to  20°  Reaumur.)  The  highest  temperature  of  the  air 
^frica  in  the  same  parallel  ot  latitude  in  January,  is  only 
59°.  - 

■_  “At  Newfoundland,  the  Gulf  Stream  comes  in  violent  collR 
siou  with  the  Polar  Stream  of  Labrador,  which  nearly  at  a 
right  angle  sets  against  and  penetrates  into  it  like  an  immense 
wedge._  On  the  eastern  side  of  the  Grand  Bank  it  is  so 
powerful  that,  according  to  the  surface  isotherms,  it  pene- 
trate^ into  the  Gulf  Stream  from  150  to  200  miles  southward'- 
of  its  general  limits,  and  therefore  entirely  intersects  the 
surface  waters  of  the  easterly  stream  for  that  breadth,  which 
is  the  most  important  part  of  its  course.  The  Gulf  Stream, 
800  miles  northeast  of  Newfoundland  bank,  after  having 
passed  beyond  this  polar  current,  is  loarmer  than  it  is  south  of 
it.  The  influence  of  the  temperature  of  this  polar  steam  is 
le^s  in  January  than  in  July.  380  miles  eastward  of  Newfound* 
land,  on  the  50°  of  north  latitude,  the  Gulf  Stream  has  a 
surface  temperature  of  68°  Fahrenheit  in  July,  while  in 
January,  the  Gulf  Stream  on  the  50°  degree  of  north  latitudn 
has  a temperature  of  54. o°  Fahrenheit j the  thermometer 
shows  at  the  same  time  at  Prague,  or  at  Ratibor,  (in  Silesia,) 
on  the  same  parallel  of  latitude,  temperatures  of  minus  24°, 
and  sometimes  still  lower  ones.  The  isothermal  line  of  54.5° 
Fahienhcit,  (10°  of  Reaumur,)  runs  up  in  July  towards 
Iceland  and  the  Faroe  Islands  to  the  61°  of  north  latitude. 
There  it  meets  for  the  second  time  the  polar  stream  which  on 
the  east  coast  of  Iceland  again  threatens  to  block  up  its  way 
and  to  destroy  it.  In  J uly,  temperatures  were  observed  on 
the  north  coast  of  Iceland  of  45°,  47°  and  49.3°,  (l)y  Lord 
Dufferin,  46°,)  while  off  the  east  coast  for  six  degrees  of  lono-i- 
tude,  none  higher  than  from  40°  to  42.6°  w'ere  found.  ° 

“According  to  Irminger’s  data,  and  Lord  Dufferin’s  observa- 
tions, the  Gulf  Stream  setting  towards  the  north  preponderates 
in  July  on  the  north  and  west  coasts  of  Iceland,  but  on  the 
oast  and  south  coasts  the  polar  stream  coming  from  the  direc- 
tion of  Jan  Mayen. 

“ Between  Iceland  and  the  Faroe  Islands,  the  Gulf  and  polar 
streams  are  contending  ngainst  each  other,  and  the  result  of 
this  struggle  is  a sea  divided  into  a great  number  of  hot  and 
cold  bands,  which  fact  is  demonstrated  clearly  by  Lord  Bui- 
ferin’s  cruise  from  Stornoway  to  Reikiavik  in  1856,  and  fully 
corroborated  by  'W’allich  in  the  Bull  Dog  Expedition  of  1860. 


156 


‘‘  Tlie  fact  that  the  two  streams  in  their  contest  appear  as 
many  bamls  anJ-  strata  alougsitlCj  ovcraiul  beneath  each  othei,^ 
is  proved  not  only  hy  the  obsQi’vations  of  the  tcmpeiatnio  ot 
the  surface  of  the  sea  by  Irminger  and  Duffcrin,  bat  also  by 
the  researches  of  AVallicli  in  regard  to  the  nature  of  the  bot- 
tom of  the  sea.  The  latter  found  there  volcanic  stones  point- 
ino-  as  to  their  origin  to  Jan  Mayen,  and  at  other  places 
ophiocomfe  of  two  to  fve  inches  in  length  which  could  have 
beo-i  carried  there  only  hy  the  warm  Gulf  Stream.  Besides,  the 
drift  ice  penetrates  here  further  to  the  south  than  anywhere 
else  east  of  Iceland.  * *'  * * But  here  the  Gulf  Stream 
comes  away  erpially  intact  from  its  struggle  with  the  polar 
stream  as  at  Isewfouudland.  ^Ye  now  know  its  further 
course  in  the  summer  from  many  direct  observations  as  far 
north  as  Sphzhergen  and  2Iova  Zembla,and  beyond  the  80°  of 
north  latitude.  . 

“ The  mild  Avintcr  of  the  British  Isles  is  well  known.  The 
mean  temperature  for  January  in  London  is  37.4°;  at  Eoin- 
bnr<^h  the  same;  at  Dublin  40.5°.  ^ The  further  we  go  from 
cast  to  west  or. from  south  to  nortn,  or,  in  other  woids,  the 
nearer  to  the  Gulf  Stream,the  higher  we  find  the  temperature. 
At  Dust,  on  one  of  the  Shetland  Islands,  500  miles  north  from 
London,  the  mean  temperature, of  the  air  in  January  is  40.3°, 
and  that  of  the  sea  45.5°,  (East  Yell.)  The  warm  current 
of  the  sea  is  tempering  the  air.  The  lowest  temperature 
observed  in  London  was  —5°,  at  Penzance  on  the  west  coast, 
fit  Saudwick  ou  tlie  Orkney  Iskuids  Madrid 

-1-13.3^  liaa  been  observed,  and  H-27.5^  at  Algiers,  Avhicli 
provides  Europe  with  cauliflowers  in  .winter. 

“ On  the  morning  of  Feh.  8,  1870,  the  telegraph  announced 
the  temperature  at  llatihor,  (in  Silesia,)  to  be  25.4°,  ’^'Lilo 
northwest  of  it,  at  Breslau,  it  was  — 13°,  at  Berlin  0.4  , at  Iviel 
4-10.6°,  and  at  Ghristiansand,  on  the  south  of  Norway,  8°  of 
latitude  north  of  Katihor,  + 30.7°.  So  high  a temperature 
w’ould  be  impossible  in  Norway  if  the  winds  did  not  bring  it 
from  the  high  temperature  of  the  Gulf  Stream  to  the  westward. 

“ Many  persons  suppose  because  the  summer  in  Iceland  is 
rou.o’h  and  cold  that  the  winter  must  be  dreadful  iu  its  .severity 
of  ?bld,  but  exactly  the  contrary  is  the  case.  Dr.  Hendersou 
states,  that  ^ really  shuddered  at  the  thought  of  living  through 
the  winter  in  Iceland.  How  greatly  was  I astonished  when  I 
found  the  temperature  not  only  higher  than  in  Denmark, 


157 


^here  I had^Tieen  during  tho  preceding  winter,  but  also  that 
tlio  \Mnter  m Iceland  was  hy  no  means  more  se\mre  tlmn  the 

►-n  cden  Sheep  and  horses  have  to  tak«  care  of  themselves 
durmg  tne  entire  year  in  Iceland;  only  cattle  and  the  more 
valuable  sadd  e horses  are  fed  in  the  stable  during  winter. 
How  mipossible  would  It  be  in  Germany  to  Idave  any  domestio 
animal  in  midwinter  without  shelter  even  for  a few  days  only. 


It  IS  not  to  be  wondered  at  that  such  is  the  case,  because 
tne  warm  Gulf  Stream  provides  Iceland  with  heat.  Its  mean 
temperature  there  is,  even  in  January,  34.7°  above  zero,  and 
tlie  lowest  iemperature  noted  during  iwenUj  years  was  onhi  ^8:6°. 
Iceland  is  situated  close  to  the  Arctic  circle,  and  in  the  lati- 
tude of  Siberia.  . 

Wjiile  on  the  western  side  of  the  north  Atlantic  ocean,  the 
polar  ice  reaches  down  to  latitude  36°  north,  (the  parallel  of 
Gibraltar  and  Malta,)  and  the  name  Labrador  is  sufficient  to 
climatic  qualities  of  ail  the  land  between  50° 
anti  60  north,  there  exists  on  the  east  side  of  the  ocean  alon  «>  the 
Is  orwcgian,  coast  cultivated  land  up  to  71°  north,  the  nortlTern- 
most  land  of  the  world,  in  which,  under  the  influence  of  the  ‘ 
Gan  btt^am,  agriculture  is  the  main  occupation  of  the  inhabi- 
tants. W heat  IS  grown  up  to  luderoen,  in  latitude  64°  north  “ 
bai  ley  up  to  Alten,  in  70°  north,  where  sowina^  generally  is  done 
between  the  20th.  and  25th  of  J une,  yielding  in  the  short  space 
of  eight  weeks  to  the  20th  or  30th  of  August,  in  the  average 
SIX  or  seven  fold;  the  potato  yields  at  the  same  place  on  the 
average  seven  or  eight  fold,  in  favourable  seasons  even  twelve 
to  htreen  fold ; it  thrives  on  the  coast  as  far  east  as  Vadso,  on  the 
J^aissian  boundary  line.  _ At  Alten  (70°  north)  relishable  cauli- 
liOiver  13  raised  even  in  less  favourable  summers.  Where 
washed  by  the  polar  current,  there  are,  as  shown  by  the  various 
rankliu  expeditions,  under  70°  north,  but  desolate  ice  deserts 
without  any  cultivation.  There  is  on  the  eastern  side  of  the 
ocean  the  flourishing  and  busy  little  town  of  Hammerfesf 
where  only  once  the  temperature  has  been  as  low  as  4-5°  and 
generally  is  not  less  than  9.5°,  while,  on  the  western  side  of 
the  ocean  there  are  only  the  poor  snow  huts  of  the  ^Isquimaux 
in  ^0°  north.  ^ 


158 


"Wliile  Germany  has  to  suffer  the  frigid  air  of  — 24°  and 
sometimes  more  intense  cold  in  winter,  at  that  same  time 
!N"orway  gathers  a rich  harvest  under  the  Arctic  circle,  uot 
from  its  acres,  hut  in  the  warm  waters  of  the  Gulf  Stream,  as 
for  instance  at  Ansvaer,  in  the  direction  of  the  vortex  of  the 
Gulf  Stream ; there  the  herring  makes  its  appearance  aboutlho 
10th  day  of  December,  remaining  until  the  first  days  of  Janu- 
ary, and  then  about  10,000  people  congregate,  and  haul  about 
200,000  tons  of  these  fish  of  a value  of  more  than  one  million 
of  dollars.” 

■ The  warmer  air  of  the  land  near  large  bodies  of  water, 
whether  of  lakes,  seas  or  oceans,  is  due  to  the  difference  of 
temperatures  between  that  of  the  atmosphere  and  that  of  the 
waters,  which  being  in  contact  at  the  surface  develops  one 
kind  of  electricity,  which  meeting  with  the  opposite  electricity 
of  the  air  evolves  heat  and  renders  the  climate  of  such  localities 
mild,  healthful  and  agreeable. 

“ East  of  the  !North  Cape,  distant  from  it  about  120  nautical 
miles  at  Vardoe,.  the  temperature  of  January  is  ; 

while  at  St.  Petersburg,  620  miles  south  of  the  former,  it  is 
4-15.1°,  or  3.4°  colder.  Put  the  most  important  fact,  testify- 
ing to  the  existence  and  the  great  volume  of  the  Gulf  Stream 
at  the  North  Cape,  appears  to  me  to  be  the  temperature  of  the 
sea  at  Fruholm,  which  in  January  is  in  the  mean  still  -f37.9°. 
Fruholrn  is  on  the  same  parallel  ot  latitude  as  Ust-Jansk,  lati- 
tude 70°  55'  north,  in  Siberia,  and  Point  Barrow,  in  North 
America.  The  former  has  a mean  temperature  in  January,  of 
—38.6°,  the  latter  of  — 18.6°.  Meran,  in  Tyrol,  of  world 
wide  celebrity,  on  account  of  its  mild  and  temperate  air, 
nearer  to  the  equator  by  24J°,  has  in  January  a temperature 
of  the  air  of  31.8°,  Yenice,  36.3°,  Vevay,  33.1°,  Paris 
35.4°,  New  York,  29.5°,  Washington,  31.5°.” 

We  will  not  pursue  this  subject  of  the  surface  temperature 
of  the  Gulf  Stream  to  its  ultimate  northern  development,  but 
we  will  turn  our  attention  to  the  temperature  of  the  Gulf 
Stream,  at  its  various  depths  in  its  course,  as  well  as  of  the 
sea  itself. 

“North  of  the  isothermal  line  of  89.4°,  (3.3°  of  Reaumur,) 
toward  the  pole,  the  temperature  generally  increases  with  the 
depth,  while  southward,  toward  the  equator,  it  decreases. 
There  is,  however,  no  uniformity  in  this, : as  Lieutenant 
Rodgers,  in  lS55,.foun.d  in  the  Asiatic  part  of  the  Arctic  Ocean 
there  is  on  the  surface  a warm  "current,  with  water  of  a low 


159 


Bpccifie  gravity,  bencatli  it  a cold  current,  and  tlion  again  a 
warm  cuiTcnt  of  licavier  water,  and  all  these  strata  ruuniug 
in  opposite  directions.  , 

In  entering  upon  the  question  of  temperature  of  sea  water 
at  .diftereut  depths,  it  must  be  home  in  mind  that  water  is 
densest  at  a temperature  of  39.2°,  and  that  it  arranges  itself 
in  the  various  depths  according  to  the  specific  gravity  in 
strata,  either  above  and  beneath,  or  alongside  each  other. 
From  the  place  where  the  sea  shows  at  the  surface  a tempera- 
ture of  39.2°,  it  will  lose  in  temperature  toward  the  pole, 
while  in  general,  it  will  gain  with  the,  increase  of  depth,  but 
toward  the  equator  the  temperature  of  the  surface  will  increase 
while  it  will  decrease  downward  in  proportion. 

Parry,  in  latitude  57°  51'  north,  longitude  41°  05'  west  of 
Greenwich,  on  June  13th,  1819,  observed  the  sea  to  have  a 
temperature  on  the  surface  of  40.5°,  and  at  a depth  of  1410 
feet,  m the  Gulf  Stream,  130  nautical  miles  southeast  of  Cape 
Farewell,  a temperature  of  39°.  140  miles  northeast  of  this 

place,  in  latitude  §9°  35'  north,  longitude  38°  6'  west  of 
Greenwich,  Captain  lluudsen,  on  the  30th  of  June,  1859,  found 
the  temperature  of  the  surface  44.6°,  and  at  the  depth  of  1800 
feet,  43.4°,  wliich  corresponds  with  Parry’s  measurements. 

ITallick  remarks  that  on  the  parallel  of  latitude  63°  north, 
not  far  from  the  south  coast  of  Iceland,  the  temperatures  on  the 
surface,  and  at  a depth  .of  600  feet,  differ  in  the  average  not 
more  than  3.8°,  and  that  consequently  the  Gulf  Stream  does 
not  essentially  lose  in  temperature  to  that  depth. 

^ On  Irmingcr’s  chart  of  the  currents  and  ice  drifts  around 
Iceland,  there  is,  in  Brede  Bugt,  (Broad  Bay,)  in  latitude  65° 
17'  north,  longitude  23°  25'  west  of  Greenwich,  a temperature 
recorded  of  46°  at  the  surface,  and  of  45.5°  at  a depth  of  300 
feet,  showing  that  the  Gulf  Stream  at  this  place  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  Polar  Circle  has  lost  in  that  depth  only  .5  of  a degree 
of  temperature.  " 

“ Scoresby  remarks,  ‘ that  the  temperature  of  the  sea  near 
Spitzbergen  is  six  or  seven  degrees  warmer  at  the  depth  of 
from  600  feet  to  1200  feet  than  it  is  at  the  surface.’ 

“ From  the  results  obtained  by  the  British  Sounding  Expedi- 
tion, from  May  31st  to  September  7th,  1869,  in  the  Horth 
Atlantic  Ocean,  between  the  Faroe  Islands  and  Spain,  it 


IGO 


iiiiyiearfj  that  the  Gulf  Stream  has,  between  Ireland  and  Spain, 
a lajiih  of  aOQ  fathoms  or  5400  feet,  and  equally  as  mn<‘]i  near 
th:'  Ivockall  rock,  west  of  the  Hebrides.  Between  lioclcall 
:'!)d  the  Faroe  Islands,  near  the  parallel  of  latitude  60‘^  north, 
k reaches  ! 6 lhc  bottorn  of  the  sea,  w])ich  has  a-depth  there  of 
7i'7  fathoms,  or  4G02  feet,  and  at  that  depth  the  Gulf  Stpvam 
le.-s  still  a temperature  of  41.5°.  It  has  also  been  found  that 
uu  AntorcUc  current  of  cold  water,  directly  over  the  buttom  of 
the  son.  (dear  up  to  the  Irish  and  Scottish  coasts,’  exists,  meeting 
tl  yre  an  Arctic  stream.  In  the  notes  of  Professor  Thomson,- 
the  stx'atum  at  Bockall,  from  900  to  1400  fathoms  bAow  the 
surface,  is  designated  as  cold  indraught,  Arctic  and  Arrtarctic, 
“ (Temperature"*39.2°  to  37.4°,)  and  the  stratum  between  900 
and  2435  fathoms,  between  Ireland  and  Spain,  as  indrauglit  ” 
of  cold  water,  probably  mainly  Antarctic,  (temperature  39.2°’ 
to  36.5°.)  ■ ' 

“ It  is  demonstrated  by  figures  and  facts,  that  the  hot  sonrcc 
and  . cove  of  the  Gnlf  Stream  extends  -from  the  straits  of 
Florida  along  the  Horth  Ameidcan  coast  at  all  times,  day  and 
night,  in  winter  as  in  summer,  even  ]n  January,  with  , a 
temperature  of  77°  and  more,  np  to  the  37° ^of  north  latitude, 
while  at  the  same  time  gnd  in  the  same  latitude  in  Tunis,  in 
Africa,  the  temperature  of  the  air  is  hut  53.4°.  The  Gulf 
Stream  transports  and  develops  still  in  this  latitude  higher 
teniperature  than  either  water  or  air  possesses  in  the,  Atlantic 
ocean,  even  under  the  equator,  on  which  neither  in  duly  nor 
in  January  the  temperature  is  Cver  as  high  as  that  of  the  .Gulf 
Stream  in  latitude  37°  noi’th. . 

‘‘  TJndor  the  37°  and  38°  of  northern  latitude,  the  hot  core  of 
the  Gulf  Stream  turns  away  from  the  American  coast  towards 
the  east  beyond  the  meridian  of  Newfoundland  and  its  hank 
to  40°.  of  longitude  west  of  Greenwich,  where  it  still  possesses 
a temjmrature  in  July  of  about  75°,  and  in  January  of  about 
06°.  From  there  it  proceeds  to  the  northeast,  diffuses  nearly 
across  the  entire  Atlantic,  and  snrronnds  the  whole  of  Europe 
to  the  Arctic  region  and  the  White  Sea  of  Arckangol,  with  a 
’lu'oad  and  pennaneut  warm  water  course,  without  which 
England  and  Germany  would  he  a second  Labrador,  and 
Scandinavia  and  Russia  a second  Greenland,  buried  beneath 
glaciers;  whereas,  in  Fruholm,  (71°  6'  north,)  the  sun  does 
not  rise  at  all  above  the  horizon  during  the  entire  month  of 
January,  in  a latitude  in  which,  in  Asia  and  Ameiica,  the 
mercuiw  remains  frozen  for  months — there  the  Gulf  Stream 


preserves  for  the  sea  a temperature  of  37.8°.  Wliile  the  sun 
in  tbc  short  days  of  winter  sends  forth  his  rajs  of  lijjht  and 
wanntli  hut  for  a few  hours,  and  the  influence  of  the  latter  is 
quickly  lost  again  in  the  long  nights,  the  Gulf  Stream  does 
not  cease,  day  or  night,  to  he  the  source  of  warmth. 

“ The  Gulf  Stream  carries  more  heat  to  the  north  than  is 
carried  hy  all  the  warm  air  currents  from  the  entire  periphery 
of  the  equator  towards  the  ISTorth  Pole  and  towards  the  SoutK 
Pole.  The  southwest  winds  receive  their  liigh  temperature 
from  the  Gulf  Stream,  and  only  through  the  ocean — not  hy  the 
winds — can  warmth  he  carried  into  ikitudes  as  high  as  those 
of  the  European  coasts  are. 

‘"From  the  soundings  obtained  so  far,  the  Gulf  Stream  must 
he,  up  to  the  Arctic  ocean,  a deep  and  voluminous  water 
course.  If  it  should  not  he  so,  the  polar  ice  would  reach  also 
the  European  coasts.  In  the  Antarctic  ocean  the  polar  ice 
drifts  all  around  the  glohe  as  far  at  least  as  latitude  57°  5' 
south,  in  many  places  to  50°  and  40°,  (latitudes  corresponding 
respectively  to  those  of  the  British  Channel  and  the  Mediter- 
ranean Sea,)  on  some  even  to  35°,  (corresponding  to  the 
latitude  of  Morocco,)  hut  not  the  smallest  particle  of  northern 
polar  ice  has  ever  reached  even  the  northernmost  cape  of 
Europe.  The  Gulf  Stream  in  its  course  is  more  powerful  and 
steady  than  all  the  winds ; only  the  the  polar  ice  and  polar 
currents  hi  spring  and  summer  exercise  a great  influence  over 
it.  The  polar  stream  presses  at  three  places  against  it:  first, 
from  the  northwest,  east  of  Newfoundland,  then  from  the 
northeast  of  Iceland ; at  both  these  places  the  polar  stream  is 
buried  and  proceeds  beneath  the  Gulf  Stream,  after  having 
pushed  it  off  laterally  to  . the  southeast.  But  for  the  third 
time,  at  Bear  Island,  the  polar  stream  comes  directly  against 
the  Gulf  Stream  from  the  northeast,  splits  it  into  two  or  three 
branches,^  and  in  places  even  presses  it  beneath  its  own  waters 
at  least  in  July.  Under  the  lee  of  Spitzbergcn,  this  latter 
branch  rises  again  and  proceeds  on  the  surface  according  to 
Parry’s  observations  to  latitude  82|°  north.  The  main  branch 
east  of  Bear  Island,  has  been  traced  by  Dr.  Bessels  to  latitude 
76°  8'  north,  where  in  August,  1869,  it  had  still  a temperature 
of  41.2°. 

“ The  polar  streams,  in  conformity  with  the  general  laws  of 
nature,  are  less  powerful  in  winter  than  in  the  summer.  The 
polar  ice  does  not  drift  as  far  southward ; it  makes  fast  more 


162 


or  less  lo  fhe  Arctic  coasts  and  islands ; in  spring  and  sum- 
raer,  on  the  contrary,  it  drifts  along  similar  to  the  glacier 
tongues,  in  Alpine  mountains,  or  the  ice  in  our  rivers.  The 
Gulf  Stream  is  in  winter  more  powerful  than  in  summer, 
while  the  polar  stream's,  so  to  say,  set  at  rest  in  some  measure, 
withdraw  their  ice  and  concentrate  it  around  the  land.  The 
relations  of  the  temperature  of  the  Gulf  Stream  within  them- 
selves, are  about  the  same  in  January  as  in  July,  the  fluctu- 
ation between  its  maximum  and  minimum  temperature,  (July 
and  January,  or  August  and  February,)  would  be  on  the 
average  only  about  9°(of  Fahrenheit,  ( 4“  of  Reaumur.) 

“ What  immense  contrast  to  this  extraordinary  temperature 
is  offered  by  the  temperature  of  the  air  on  the  mainland! 
From  the  sea  and  air  isothermal  .line  of  36,5®  Fahrenheit, 
(2°  of  Reaumur,)  at  Philadelphia,  to. Northumberland  Sound, 
With  — 40°,  the  distance  is  2280  miles  nearly  due  north, 
There  is,  therefore,  in  about  each  thirty  miles  a fall  in  temper- 
ature of  one  degree,  as  you  go  north.  From  the  same  p^v.at 
at  Philadelphia  to  the  Gulf  Stream,  east  of  Fruholm,  on  the 
same  isothermal  line  of  36.5°  Fahrenheit,  (or  2°  of  Reaumur.) 
there  are  in  the  direction  of  the  Gulf  Stream,  in  an  air  lino, 
about  5400  miles,  in  which  distance  there  is  no  fall  at  all  in 
the  temperature  of  the  Gulf.Strcam.  There,  one  degree  of  fall 
in  each  thirty  miles;  here,  the  same  temperature  aloiig  5100 
miles  in  a northeast  direction.  Such  is  the  influence  and 
po-wer  of  the  Gulf  Stream.  In  the  latitude  of  Berlin,  which 
has  a mean  temperature  of  the  air  in  January  of  28°,  the 
Gulf  Stream  .has  50°;  at  the  Faroe  Islands  it  has  still  42.1°  ; but 
in-Jakutsk,  in  the  latitude  of  the  Faroes,  the  air  is  40°  below 
zero,  a difference  of  82.1°.” 

Scorcsby  remarks  : “ In  some  situations  near  Spitzbergen, 
the  warm  water  not  only  occupies  the  lower  and  mid  regions 
of  the  sea,  but  also  appears  at  the  surface ; in  some  instances, 
0Y'cii  arnong  ice.  the  temperature  of  the  sea  at  tlie  suificc  lias 
been  as  high  as  86°,  or  38°,  when  that  of  the  air  has  been 
several  degrees  below  freezing.  This  circumstance,  however, 
lias  chiefly  occurred  near  the  meridians  of  6°  to  12°  east  of 
Greenwich,  and  ive  find  from  observations  that  the  sea  freezes! 
less  in  these  longitudes  than  in  any  other  part  of  the  Spitz- 
bergen  sea.” 

“ The  hot  source  and  core  of  the  Gulf  Stream  extends  from 
the  straits  of  Florida,  along  the  North  American  coast  at  all 
times,  day  and  night,  in  winter  . and  summer,  even  in  January, 


vritli  a temperature  of  77®,  and  more,  up  to  the  37®  of  norfh- 
■ era  latitude,  while,  at  the  same  time,  and  in  the  same  latitude, 
in  Africa,  (Tunis,)  the  temperature  of  the  air  is  but  63.4°. 
The  Gulf  Stream  transports  and  develops  still,  in  this  lati- 
tude, a higher  temperature  than  water  and  air  possess  in  the 
Atlantic  ocean,  even  under  the  equator,  on  which  neitlier  in 
Julv  nor  in  January,  the  temperature  is  ever  as  high  as  that 
of  the  Gulf  Stream,  in  latitude  37°  north.”='= 

'Why  is  this?  We  have  shown  that  heat  could  not  be. 
forceifdown  by  the  sun  along  tlie  line  of  the  Gulf  Stream,  by 
any  power  of  which  we  have  a notion.  If  this  heat  could  be 
derived  from  the  sun,  it  is  clear  that  the  temperature  of  the 
ocean  under  the  equator  should  be  at  least  a.s  great,  if  not 
much  greater,  than  it  is  in  the  straits  of  Florida,  or  up  to  the 
37°  of  north  latitude;  but  we  know,  experimentally,  that  this 
is  not  the  case,  but  that  the  heat  is  actually  less  either  on  land 
or  ocean  under  the  equator,  than -it  is  in  that  portion  of  the 
Gulf  Stream  from  the  straits  of  Florida  to  the  87°  of  north 
latitude.  Therefore  solar  I’adiation  of  heat  is  out  of  the  ques- 
tion. ISTor  could  the  great  heat  at  the  immense  depths  of  the 
Gulf  Stream,  penetrate  thereto,  even  if  it  were  possible  for 
heat  to  descend  to  our  planet  from  the  sun,  for  the  tendency 
of  heat  is  everywhere  to  ascend  into  the.  atmosphere,  and  it 
could  not  remain  permanently  at  those  depths  in  opposition  ■ 
to  that  tendency.  We  must  therefore  seek  the  cause  of  tins 
marvellous  heat  in  the  waters  of  the  Gulf  Stream,  somewhere 
else  than  in  the  sun. 

We  are  told  by  our  geologists  that  very  great  heat  e.xists  in 
the.  interior  ©f  our  earth — and  the  existence  of  volcanoes  in 
many  portions  of  the  globe  which  are  now  active,  as  well  as 
those  which  have  been  quiet  for  a period  of  time  unknown 
to  man,  all  attest  the  truth  of  their  assertion.  These  volcanoes, 
past  and  present,  have  subterranean  and  submarine  communi- 
cations with  each  other,  which  permeate  large  portions  of  the 
interior  of  the  earth  and  serve  to  transmit  any  excessive  ac- 
cumulation of  heat  from  its  immediate  source  to  even  the 
most  distant  parts  of  the  earth’s  interior,  for  radiation  to  the 
surface  of  the  earth.  These  communications  are  simply  flues 
for  distributing  the  interior  heat  of  the  earth  to  its  various  parts. 
The  greatest  heat  is  and  always  has  been  under  the  equator, 
and  these  flues  are  for  the  most  part  submarine.  If  you  will 


* From  Dr.  A.  Peterman’s  Essays  on  tlie  Extension  of  tbe  Gulf  Stream. 


1 


16i 

take  an  atlas  of  physical  ^ography  and  cast  your  eyes  upon 
the  map  showing  the  distribution  of  volcanoes  and  the  regions 
subject  to  earthquakes,  you  will  discover  that  the  southern  part 
of  Mexico  and  the  isthmus,  connecting  the  two  Americas  arc 
studded  with  volcanoes,  while  the  Caribbean  sea  is  filled  with 
them.  These  volcanoes  are  doubtless  connected  by  flues  which 
are  united  into  many  proximate  flues  in  the  straits  of  Florida, 
through  which  the  surplus  heat  of  the  interior  of  the  earth  under 
the  American  continent  and  a part  of  the  Atlantic  ocean  ami 
the  Gulf  of  Mexico  is  transmitted  to  the  Arctic  regions,  warm- 
ing the  -waters  of  the  Gulf  Stream  through  its  wdiole  length,  ^ 
and  thus  moderating  the  climates  of  the  western  parts  of’ 
Europe.  Another  system  of  volcanoes  will  he  observed  almost 
on  the  same  meridian,  extending  from  Tristan  d’Acunhain  the 
southerm  Atlantic  ocean  though  Trinidad,  St.  Helena,  Ascen- 
sion, Cape  Verd  Islands,  Canary  Islands,  Azores,  Iceland  and 
Jan  Mayen,  to  the  Arctic  regions.  These  volcanoes  attest 
a central  heat,  forciiig  a passage  by  the  repellent  a-ffinity  of 
positive  electricity  with  which  it  is  associated  in  the  direction 
of  the  polar  axis  of  the  earth,  to  outlets  at  either  pole.' 
When  obstructions  are  met  with  in  the  passage  of  this  heat 
and  electricity  towards  the  polos  in  the  interior  of  the  earth 
volcanoes  are  formed,  the  superincumbent  crust  of  the  earth 
is  upheaved  and  a vertical  flue  or  chimney  instead  of  the  origi- 
nal horizontal  or  inclined  flue  is  developed,  and  an  eruption 
of  matter  is  thrown  out  to  form  an  island,  -which  in  a series 
of  ages  may  become  a continent. 

These  two  systems  of  submarine'  flues  carrying  the  heat  of 
the  central  portion  of  the  interior  of  the  eai’th  under  the 
Atlantic-  ocean,  a part  of  the  American  continent,  the  Carrib- 
hean  sea,  Gulf  of  Mexico  and  the  Antilles,  meet  under  the' 
Atlantic  ocean  to  the  southeast  of  tlie  island  of  Iceland,  each 
furnishing  its  supply  of  heat  to  maintain  the  temperature  of 
the  Gulf  Stream,  as  well  in  its  greatest  depths  as_  on  its 
• extended  surface.  As  heat  ascends  from  its  source  into  the 
atmosphere,  it  passes  upwards  from  the  bottom  of  the  Gulf 
Stream  through  it  to  its  surface,  a.ssociated  with  Us  positive 
electricity,  where  it  encounters  the  negative  electricity  of  the 
atmosphere,  and  by  conjunction  with  it,  increases  the  heat  of 
the  air  above  the  water,  which  air,  thus  warmed,  attracted  by  the 
colder  air  negatively  electrified  of  the  land  that  is  nearest  to  it, 
flows  in  a steady  wind  towards  it,  ameliorating  its  climate  and 
promoting  the  health  and  happiness  of  its  inhabitants. 


165 


■ All  'srarm  currents  of  water,  wherever  they  may  be  situated  ' 
have  a similar  origin  in  the  heat  developed  in  the  interior  of 
the  earth.^  The  islands  of  the  Pacific  ocean  may  be  all  regarded 
as  volcanic.  The  western  coasts  of  America  from  Cape  Horn 
to  their  noithern  limits,  furnish  a corresponding  proportion  of 
volcanic  action,  and  the  warm  Japanese  current  through 
Behring’s  straits  and  along  the  coast  of  Asia,  evinces  a similar 
origin  in  submarine  flues  conveying  heated  air  under  the 
ocean  to  the  Arctic  regions  on  that  side  of  the  globe.  ' 

“ The  British  expeditions  for  deep  sea  soundings  ascertained 
the  temperature  of  the  water  of  the  Gulf  Stream,  at  a depth 
of  6000  feet,  (being  more  than  one  mile,)  to  be  38.1°,  and  at 
14,610  feet,  (being  nearly  three  miles,)  to  be  still  36.5°.  Com- 
pared with  this,  the  deep  sea  temperature  of  the  Gulf  of 
Arabia,  and  eveu  of  the  water  under  the  Equator,  will  he 
found  veiy  low,  sinking  to  34°  j in  general,  the  deep  sea 
temperature  of  the  tropical  oceans  is  lower  than  that  of  the 
Horth  American  basin. 

■ J'lii  the  northern  Atlantic  ocean,  between  50°  and  60°  of 
latitude,  there  are  certain  hands  of  water  of  a high  tempera- 
ture interposed  between  bauds  of  water  of  a lower  temperture. 

“ T/iese  lands  of  a higher  temperature  art  to  be  founds  more  or  less, 
where  a warm  current  and  a cold  current  converge,  as,  for  instance, 
east  of  Iceland.^  The  two  principal  bands  alluded  to  by  Admi- 
ral Irmiuger,  in  his  memoir,  in  about  60°  of  north  latitude 
between  the  Shetland  islands  and  Cape  Farewell,  are,  doubt- 
less, the  two  convex  vertices-  of  the.  Gulf  Stream  in  that 
region. 

The  fact  that  the  entire  sea  between  Scotland  and  Iceland 
consists  of  a great  number  of  such  warm  and  cold  hands  of 
water,  adjoining  each  other,  is  best  proved  by  the  cruise  of 
Lord  Dufterin,  who,  sailing  from  Stornoway,  in  the  Hebrides 
to  Reikiavik,  between  the  13th  and  20th  of  June,  1856,  ob’ 
served  the  temperature  of  the  surface  of  the  sea  every,  two 
hours— -in  all,  ninety  times— and  found,  it  to  change  hot  less  than 
forty-four  times,  or,  in  the  average,  once  in  fourteen  nautical 
miles,  the  change  fluctuating  between  52,9°  and  43°  ; for  the 
most  part,  however,  between  50°  and  47.8°;  while  on  starting 
from  Stornoway,  the  temperature  was  observed  to  be  48°,  and 
on  arriving  at  Iceland  again  48°. 

“ There  are  hands,  where  the  water  is  of  a higher  temperature 
close  to  one  where  it  is  of  a lower  temperature,  and  such 


I an ’s  ai’c  found  on  cacli  passage  across  the  Atlantic,  l>ctwocn 
Faii-liill  and  Greenland.  TlLc'’d'drereuce  between  tho  highest- 
and  tlio  lowest  tenipej  atiii’cs  of  the  sea  observed  on  tliis  line 
of  the  Atlantic  ocean  is  10.8°,  up  to  30°  or  40"  west  of  Green- 
wich ; to  the  west  of  this  meridian,  the  temperature  fell  more 
rapid! j,  the  naoro  so  the  nearer  to  Greenland.  The  tempera- 
ture of  the  warmest  bands  is  defined  frequently  pi’ctty  sharply 
against  the  waters  which  run  through  them.  This  high 
tcmpci’titure  of  the  sea  at  its  surface,  cxtcmls  30  degrees  of 
longitude,  or  at  least  900  nautical  miles  Avest  of  Fairhill. 

“Findlay  mentions  that  the  temperature  at  the  depth  of 
1200  feet  Avas  found  to  be  only  o5°,  Avhilo  on^tho  surface  of 
the  Gulf  Stream  it  reached  77.4°.  In  the  Florida  straits, 
Avhere  the  velocity  of  the  Gulf  Stream  is  greatest,  the  tem- 
perature at  4800  feet  Avas  found  to  bo  only  33.1°. 

“ The  AA-ai-m  water  of  the  Gulf  Stream  is  not  found  at  consider- 
able depths,  much  of  the  heat  of  the  lower  strata  escaping  to 
the  surface.  It  is,  besides,,  a fact,  that  this  Avarm  water  is  but 
little  apt  to  mix  Avith  the  adjoining  sea-water. 

“Above  the  broad  Atlantic  ocean,  in  high  latitudes,  in  the 
colder  seasons  there  is  a relatively  high  temperature,  which  by 
the  prcAmiling  Avcstci’n  gnd  southAvestern  Avinds  is  carried  to 
the  coasts  of  Europe.” 

Let  us  now  consider,  some  of  the  recognized  laAvs  of 
heat  and  electricity.  It  is  knoAvn,  that  Avhore  tAvo  adjacent 
.difi'erent  temperatures  exist  there  electricity  is  cvoh'od. 
iSloAv  thcAAmters  of  the  Gulf  Stream,  the  Japanese  current,  and 
of  other  hot  streams  existing  in  the  oceans  and  along  coasts, 
deriving  tbeir  heat  in  the  first  place  from  the  submarine  lines 
connecting  subterranean  and  submarine  volcanoes  Avith  the 
Arctic  and  Antarctic  regions,  admit  of  the  passage  of  tins  beat 
through  their  globules  to  their  upper  surfaces,  iu  conformity  to 
the  attraction  of  heat  from  1110  surface  of  the  earth  to  the  upper- 
atmosphere.  This  ascent  of  heat  from  the  bottom  of  these'  hot 
streams  through  their  AA’aters  to  tlm  atmosphere,  iu  conuoetioa 
with  the  indra'ught  of  cold  Arctic  and  Antarctic  Avaters  flowing 
over  the  bottom  of  the  oceans,  is  the  cause  of  the  low  tempera- 
turc  always  found  at  such  depths  in  those  waters-s-while  in- 
termediately from  the  bottom  of  the -ocean  to  the  surface  in 
such  hot  currents  of  water,  the  temperature  varies  tillit  comes 
nto  contact  Avith  that  of  the  atmosphere,  and  that  of  the  ocean 
water  encompassing  these  hot  currents  of  water  through  iheir 
whole  extent.  The  contact  of  these  different  temperatures 


167 


,-volvos  electricity,  which  is  positive  whore  the  hi,j?h  tempera- 
ture of  the  water  pervades  its  greater  volumes,  ^id  negative 
clectricitj’'  where  the  cold  Arctic  and  Antarctic  waters  exceed  in 
volume,  below  the  surface,  the  waters  of  the  hot  stream.  The 
conjunction  of  these  opposite  electricities  evolves  heat,  which 
being  absorbed  by  the  water  where  they  meet  serves  to  supply 
a continuous  source  of  heat  to  the  farthest  extremities  of  such 
hot  currents  of^water  to  the  Polar  regions — and  this  is  why 
tiiis- great  heat  is  maintained  from  its  original  source  in  the 
Florida  straits  to  the  high  latitude  where  it  is  observed.  The 
cause  of  the  hot  waters  of  the  Grulf  Stream  not  mixing  readily 
with  the  colder  waters  of  the  IS'orthern  Atlantic  ocean,  will  be 
in  the  junction  of  these  opposite  electricities,  pro- 
ducing heat  where  these  hot  and  cold  watei’s  meet. 

Ill  ascending  from  the  earth  in  a balloon,  aeronauts  have 
.discovered  the  same  law  to  prevail  among  gaseous  fluids  as 
among  liquid  fluids  on  the  earth,  and  that  strata  of  heated  air, 
even  at  groat  elevations,  are  as  it  were  sandwiched  between 
. others  of  far  lower  temperature ; the  contiguity  of  these  strata 
Oi  warm  and  cold  air  develops  heat  and  electricity  as  well  as 
rnagnetisra  in  the  atmosphere,  as  is  done  also  in  the  waters  of 
the  ocean  by  corresponding  columns  of  warm  and  cold  water 
in  juxtaposition.  These  attributes  of  fluids  are,  therefore, 
among  the  great  sources  of  the  evolution  of  these  impondera- 
ble powers. 

The  cold  Arctic  and  Antarctic  currents  of  water,  in  motion 
to  the  Equator  from  the  poles  while  currents  of  warm  water 
Irom  the  tropics  to  the  poles  are.  moving-  beside  them  in  a 
directly  opposite  direction,  are  conclusive  evidences  that  they 
are  impelled  hj'  magnetic^  attractions  and  repulsions  in  the 
crust  of  the  earth,  and  so  it  is  also  with  the  aerial  currents  of 
tne  atmosphere.  Those  of  a great  elevation,  having  a very 
low  temperature,  are  attracted  towards  the  Equator  and  down- 
vrards  to  the  earth  by  its  magnetism,  wdiile  the  warm  equato- 
rial currents,  repelled  from  the  earth  by  the  same  magnet- 
ism which  has  attracted  the  cold  upper  current  downward 
towards  it,  ascend  to  the  upper  regions  of  the  atmosphere 
attracted  by  the  opposite  magnetism  existing  there,  and  in 
both  cases  in  opposition  to  the  supposed  law  of  gravitation,  for 
tire  air  descending  to  the  earth  from  the  elevated  regions  of 
the  atmosphere  is  much  thinner  and  more  attenuated  than  the 
air  beneath,  and  the  ascending  warm  air  is  much  denser  th.an 
the  air  of  the  regions  that  it  seeks.  The  diagonal  and  spiral 


168- 


raotions  of  either  the  descending  or  the  ascending  currents  of 
the  atmosphere  are  produced  by  the ’magnetism  of  those  portions 
of  the  atmosphere,  through  which  they  are  respectively 
passing. 

When  our  attention  is  directed  to  the  fact  of  the  Labrador 
and  Polar,  or  Arctic  currents  running  towards  the  Ecpiator, 
while  by  their  sides  the  Gulf  Stream  is  running  towards  the 
Arctic  regions  in  an  opposite  direction;  and  when  it  is  dis- 
covered 15}'  the  deep  sea  soundings',  that  there  are  currents  of 
water  of  varying  temperatures  at  great  depths  which  also  run 
side  hy  side  in  opposite  directions,  at  whatever  depths,  we  are 
forced  to  the  conclusion  thg,t  no  eoncei^mhle  system  of  gravita- 
tion can  he  devised  to  explain  the  anomaly.  But  if  we  apply 
the  law  of  development  of  heat  and  magnetism,  hy  the  con- 
junction of  opposite  electricities,  which  arc  ahvays  associated 
with  differences  of  contiguous  tem}.)erature3,  the  solution  of 
the  phenomena  referred  to  becomes  comparatively  easy.  The 
electro-miagnctic  condition  of  the  warm  water  of  the  Gulf 
Stream  is  repelled  from  the  Equator,  and  attracted  hy  the 
opposite  electro-magnetic  condition  of  the  waters  and  atmos- 
phere about  the  North  Pole,  while  the  cold  waters  of  the 
Labrador  and  Arctic  currents  are  repelled  hy  the  similar 
electro-magnetism  of  the  waters  at  their  starting  point,  and 
are  attracted  towards  the  Equator  by  the  opposite  electro-mag- 
netism of  the  wmrm  waters  there.  Similar  causes  produce 
similar  effects  in  the  southern  hemisphere,  and  similar  electro- 
magnetic forces  dominate  in  the  atmosphere  all  over  the 
planet.  Hence  we  find  there,  horizontal  winds  blowing  in 
opposite  directions,  one  above  the  other,  and  it  is  hy.this  wise 
arrangement  of  oppositely  electrified  currents  of  air  that  the 
rainfall  is  scattered  and  distributed'  over  vast  areas  of  the 
earth’s  surface,  modifying  the  temperatures  and  furnishing 
to  the  parched  and  arid  soil  those  supplies  of  water  for  irriga- 
tion, so  indispensable  to  the  support  of  animal  and  vegetable 
life  upon  it. 

In  the  year  1828, 1 was  detailed  with  two  other  officers  of 
the  army^  by  the  Secretary  of  "War,  to  make  a survey  of  the 
mountainous  region  in  the  states  of  North  and  South  Carolina, 
Georgia,  and  Tennessee,  lying  between  the  head  of  navigation 
on  the  Savannah  river,  at  the  eastern  foot  of  the  Blue  Bidge 
mountains,  and  the  head  of  navigation  on  the  Tennessee 
river,  on  the  w:esteru  side  of  the  same  mountains.  The  object 


I 


y, 


4 


169 


of  the  survey  was  to  ascertain  the  practicability  of  construct- 
ing a navigable  canal  on  the  mountains,  to  bring  the  produce 
of  northern  Alabama  and  eastern  Tennessee  to  Charleston, 
in  South  Carolina,  and  Savannah,  in  Georgia,  instead  of  send- 
ing it  to  Mobile  and  New  Orleans,  and  thus  it  was  hoped  by 
the  administration  of  the  Government  to  reconcile  the  people 
of  South  Carolina  and  Georgia  especially,  to  the  policy  of 
having  thp  internal  improvements  of  the  country  to  be  made 
by  the  Federal  Government  instead  of  by  the  State  Govern- 
ments. 

On  reaching  our  destination,  I was  directed  to  run  a line  of 
levels  fronr  the  head  waters  of  line  Savannah  river  over  the 
mountains  to  those  of  the  Tennessee  river,  a distance,  if T 
remember  rightly,  of  some  ninety  miles.  I had  under  my 
command  eleven  men — mountaineers — stout,  strong,  active, 
and  hardy  fellows.  The  other  officers  Avere  employed  in 
prospecting  for  other  routes  across  the  mountains,,  at  consid- 
erable distances  from  that  I was  pursuing.  The  country  was 
then  very  thinly  settled,  and  a portion  of  my  route  bordered 
on  the  lands  occupied  by  the  Creek  or  Cherokee  Indians,  then 
living  in  the  state  of  Georgia.  Of  coursej  we  had  to  carry  all 
our  supplies  with  us,  the  country  furnishing  little  or  nothing. 
We  were  occupied  on  this  duty  some  five  months,  from  July 
till  December.  Frost  appeared  in  the  latter  part  of  Septem- 
ber, on  the  parallel  of  latitude  of  Charleston,  in  South  Caro- 
lina, and  thin  ice  was  formed  on  the  streams  almost  nightly 
after  October  15th.  In  the  latter  part  of  October  my  party 
was  benighted  in  the  valley  of  the  Little  Tennessee  river,  far 
away  from  any  human  habitation,  on  a narrow  alluvial  bottom, 
overhung  by  a precipitous  and  lofty  mountain.  The  man 
detailed  to  bring  to  Us  from  tlie  mountain  ridge  our  supplies 
for  the  day  and  night,  had  missed  his  w^ay,  and  had  descended 
to, the  river,  at  a place  that  Ave  had  left  several  miles  behind 
us.  He  had  not  observed  our  trail,  and  supposing  that  we 
had  not  passed  the  spot  which  he  had  reached,  he  kindled  a 
fire,  and  remained  there  all  night  awaiting  our  arrival.  After 
sending  men  in  every  direction  in  search  of  him,  who  returned 
without  success,  I began  to  make  arrangements  for  the  night. 
The  air  was  cold  and  humid,  ice  being  formed  of  the  thick- 
ness of  a quarter  of  an  inch  on  the  still  waters  of  a portion  of 
tlie  river,  a heavy  growth  of  timber  in  the  valley  of  the  river 
where  I had  halted  rendered  the  ground,  as  well  as  the  air, 
very  damp.  The  men,  like  myself,  were  all  dressed  in  light 


170 


’timer  clotliing',  and  fire,  therefore,  became  a prime  necessity, 
Viiit  tlie  question  was,  how  to  obtain  it.  At  that  period, 
iu'ufer  matches,  if  they  had  been  invented,  could  not  be 
procured  where  we  were.  My  arms  and  ammunition, 
with  the  -rest  of  our  supplies,  were  with,  my  wagon, 
rmd  where  it  was  we  had  not  been  able  to  discover. 
It  occurred  to  me  to  procure  fire  by  friction,  for  at  that 
day  it  was  thought  that  heat  was  evolved  by  friction.  So  I 
divided  rny  ten  men  into  five  reliefs  of  two  men  each,  and 
directing  some  of  them  to  gather  the  driest  pieces  of  wood  ' 
they  could  find,  I notched,  the  pieces  so  as  to  make  the 
greatest  rubbing  surfaces  possible  in  them,  and  then  I set  two 
nien  at  a time'' to  rub  the  pieces  of  wood  together.'  Having 
some  pieces  of  dry  paper  in  my  pockets,  I hoped  to  be  able  to 
kindle  a fire  with  them,  when  sufficient  heat  should  be 
developed  by  the  friction  of  the  pieces  of  wood.  The  men 
relie'ved  each  other  every  five  minutes,  after  having  rubbed  the 
pieces  of  wood  together,  vigourously  and  rapidly;  the  wood 
became  blackened,  and  much  smoke  was  given  out,  but  no 
fire  could  be  produced.  The^vood  itself  was  not  sufficiently 
dry,  and  none  more  suitable  could  be  procured.  _ The  evening 
air  was  cold  and  damp  and  carried  off  as  fast  as- it  was  evolved 
the  positive  ' electricity  which  flowed  from  the  friction  pro- 
duced on  the  wood  by  the  active  rubbing  of  the  men.  One  of 
the  elements  therefore  to  develop  the  heat,  viz  : the  negative 
electricity  of  the  atmosphere  that  we  needed,  was  wanting. 
After  having  kept  these  five  reliefs  of  the  men  continually  busy 
in  rubbing  these  pieces  of  wood  for  two-  consecutive  hours, 
I gave  up^the  effort  in  despair,  and  we  submitted  ourselves  to 
the  circumstances  of  our  situation,  and  passed  a dismal  night 
of  great  suffering.  Had  the  wood  and  the  night  air  been  dry, 
we  should  have  kindled , a fire  in  fifteen  minutes  with  such 
an  amount  of  frictional  electricity  as  was  developed  by  the 
rubbing  of  the  wood  by  the  men.  The  experiment  satisfied 
me  that  heat  is  only  developed  by  the  proper  electrical  condi- 
tions and  not  by  friction  of  itself.  As  it  was,  all  the  friction 
we  could  produce  did  not  prevent  us  from  passing  two 
days  and  nights  in  these  mountains  without  food  or  fire,  the 
rvater  on  the  river,  in  its  tranquil  parts,  having  heen  frozen  a'f 
night  of  the  thickness  of  a quarter  of  a dollar  or  an  English 
shilling. 

Every  housewife  in  the  country  knows  that  if  she  suffers 
the  sunlight  to  fall  upon  the  burning  fuel  on  her  hearth,  the 


171 


combustion  of  tlie  fuel  uull  be  clea.'lene<I  by  it,  and  if  allowed 
to  continue  long,  it  will  be  extinguislied,  Tliis  is  owii'o"  to 
the  demx'jdizing  power  of  the  blue  ray  of  the  sunlight,  wfiieb 
separating  the  oxygen  gas  from  tlie  atmospheric  air  in  the 
chimney,  jjrevents  the  combustion  of  the  fuel  from  the 
absence  of  oxygon  gas.  hoever  lias  seen  one  of  our  western 
piaiiies  on  hre,  must  have  observed,  in  the  stillness  of  the 
. inoruing-air  and  in  the  bright  sunshine,  that  the  cumbustion 
of  the  dry  grass  and  herbage  was  slow,  the  flame  lazily  creep- 
tug  fi  om.  one  stallc  to  another  till  a canopv  of  smoke  intercept- 
ing the  sunlight,  allowed  a current  of  air  to.  be  formed 
beneath  the  smoke,  which  fanned  the  combustion  into  active 
flame.  These  results  were  from  the  removal  of  the  oxvo-en 
gas  trom  the  air  in  the  first  place,  bv.the  blue  ray  of  the^suu- 
ligbt  de-oxydizing -it,  and  in  the  second  part,  obscurimr  the 
sunhght  by  the  canopy  of  smoke,  which  permitted  the  oxvo-en 
gas  in  the  atmosphere  to  be  re-united  to  the  air  beneath* it, 
and  to  supply  the  oxygen  gas  to  support  anew  the  combustion 
on  the  praii’ie. 

It  is  therefore  a mistake  to  suppose  that  friction  produces 
heat.  ^ It  evolves  electricity,  'which,  uniting  Avith  opposite 
electricity,  develo[)s  sometimes  heat  and  sometimoe  c«’d,  as 
one  or  other  of  the  electricities  is  predominant  in  Amlume  and 
tension  at  their  eonjunetion.  This  is  illustrated  hy  the 
passage  of  sunlight  through  two  adjacent  pmies  of  glass,  one 
being  blue,  'the  other  colourless  and  trans|i)arent,  at  the  same 
angle  of  incidence.  Glass  is  known  to  be  a feeble  conductor 
ot  heat  as  well  as  of  electricity,  for  we  use  glass  in  our 
windows  to  confine  within  our  rooms  the  artificial  heat  prp- 
clueed  within. them  during  winter,  and  in  northern  regions 
double  sashes  are  used  in  the  windows,  the  outer  sash  to 
prevent  the  cold  from  penetrating  through  them,,  and  the 
inner  sash  to  confine  the  warmer  air  within  the  rooms;  and  in 
electrical  experiments,  glass  handles  are  used  to  insulate 
currents  of  electricity  intended  to  be  passed  from  one  pole  of 
the  battery  to  the  other. 

HoAv  when  sunlight  with  its  enormous  velocity  fldls  thus 
upon  two  such  adjacent  panes  of  glass,  it  will  be  found  that 
the  plain  transparent  glass  is  cold  to  the  touch  of  the  handl 
while  the  blue  glass  is  hot  when  so  touched.  If  friction  pro- 
duced heat,  both  of  these  surfaces  should  have  the  same  tem- 
p^ei  ature,  • but  such  is  not  the  case.  The  reason  is  obvious. 
The  sunlight  passes  through  the  plain  transparent  glass,  only  • 


172 


sliglitly  retarded  by  its  density,  which  is  greater  than  that  of 
the  atmosphere,  but  subject  to  its  refraetjou — while  six  of  the 
primary  rays  of  the  sunlight  that  impinges  upon  the  blue 
glass,  are  suddenly  arrested  by  the  impact  with  it,  wdiich 
shatters  the  composite  rays  of  indigo,  violet  and  purple  into 
their  component  parts,  and  only  admits  of  the  passage  of  the 
blue  ray  through  it.'  This  sudden  stoppage  of  a velocity  of 
186,000  miles  per  second  of  six  of  these  primary  rays  of  sun-  , 
light  produces  enormous  friction,  which  evolves  negative 
electricity  from  these  rays,  which  coming  in  contact  with  the 
vitreous  or  positive  electricity  of  the  glass  evolves  heat,  that 
.expanding  the  molecules  of  the  glass  allows  the  heat  thus 
developed  and  a current  of  electro- magnetism,  produced  at 
tiie  same  time  hy  this  conjunction  of  opposite  electricities,  to 
pass  through  the  glass,  and  to  produce  the  marvelous  results 
upon  animal  and  vegetable  life  that  we  have  announced. 
This,  then,  is  the  theory  that  explains  the-  almost  magical 
effects  that  are  produced  in  life  by  the  impact  of  sunlight  upon 
the  adjacent  surfaces  of  plain  transparent  glass  and  blue  glass. 

The,  facts  are  in  such  harmony  with  the  explanation  of 
them,  that  as  we  cannot  deny  the  facts  we  are  hound  to 
accept  the.  theory  that  elucidates  them.  This  will  relieve  the 
Bcieutific  mind  that  is  always  bothered  to  accept  a new  fact  or 
to  comprehend  a new  theory. 

Light  is  diffusible.  This  is  apparent  everywhere  in  our  illu- 
minations. It  is  also  compressible,  as  illustrated  by  the  con- 
centration of  sunlight  through  a common  lens  or  sun  glass  into 
a 'focus,  by  which  a boy  lights  his  segar  or  inflames  a squib  of 
gunpowder.  This  shows  that  rays  of  light  move  through 
ether,  and  our  atmosphere,  without  touching  each  other,  and 
that  when  they  are  compressed  together,  as  in  this  lens,  their 
tangency  produces  friction,  and  this  friction  evolves  negative 
electricity,  which  has  caused  their  separation,  which  negative 
electricity  brought  into  contact  with  the  vitreous  or  positive 
electricity  of  the  glass  of  the  lens,  develops  heat  of  extraordi- 
nary intensity.  Now,  when  we  come  to  apply  these  attributes 
of  light  to  the  physical  condition  of  our  planet,  we  are  r.t  no 
loss  to  assign  the  variations  of  our  temperature  throughout 
our  seasons,  directly  to  the  action  of  light  upon  the  various 
solid,  liquid  or  gaseous  constituents  of  the  planet,  which  at 
certain  times  and  in  certain  conditions  are  oppositely  electri- 
fied to  the  rays  of  light. 

There  is  no  atmosphere  about  the  moon  and.  consequently 


173 


It  has  no  heat,  as  the  rays  of  light  which  fall  upon  the  moon’s 
surface  being  negatively  electrified  as  they  pass  through  the 
cold  ether  of  stellar  and  planetary  space,  on  reachiim  the 
moon  at  a very  small  angle  of  incidence- from  the  sun  are  in- 
•stantly  ^fleeted  from  its  surface  upon  the  earth  and  into 
space.  ^ The  moon  itself  being  negatively  electrified  by  its  con- 
tact  with  this  ether  m its  career  in  its  orbit,  this  negativelv 
electrified  condition  of  the  moon’s  surface  repels  the  rays  of 
light  therefrom,,  and  hastens  their  reflection.  The  rotation  on 
Its  axis  is  the  efiect  of  electrical  forces  in  its  interior,  and  its 
motion  around  the  earth,  and  with  it  around  the  sun,  results 
Irorn  the  magnetism  contained  witliin  its  crust,  and  in  the 
earth  and  Its  atmosphere,  as  avgII  as  in  the  planets,  the  sun 
and  the  ether  of  space. 


one  impulse  could  possibly  send  light  from  its  various 
sources  in  the  firmament  through  space  with  its  constant 
velocity  of  186,000  miles  per  second.  It  is  impelled  throuo-h 
space  with  its  own  concomitant  forces,  as  a rocket  fired  froln. 
Its  stand  is  continually  driven  forward  by  the  forces  evolved 
r composition,  till  it  is  extinguished, 

bo  light  IS  repelled  from  its  sources  in  the  firmament  by  its 
negative  electricity,  and  its  velocity  is  maintained  by  the  assist- 
ance ot  the  negative-  electricity  of  the  ether  through  which  it  is 
passing,  continually  driving  it  forward.  This"  condition  of 
negative  .electricity  in  light  being  constant,  and  its  velocity 
umtorm,  its  rate  of  speed  is  maintained  till  it  enters  our  atmos- 
piiere,  where  it  encounters  electrical  disturbances  of  opposite 
as  well  as  similar  conditions,  producing  its  refraction,  its  re- 
flections, its  polarization  and  its  absorption.  On  reaching  the 
suitace  of  the  earth,  which  at  every  moment  presents  a new 
to  the  action  of  light,  all  the  phenomena  of  day, 
tw  ilight  and  night,  of  heat  and  cold,  of  dryness  and  moisture,  of 
atmospheric  and  climatic  changes,  are  developed.  Seasons  suc- 
ceed ea^  other,  according  to  the  angles  of  incidence  of  the  sun’s 
iiglit.  vv  hen  it  falls  in  the  summer  on  certain  parts  of  the'  earth 
alrnost  vertically,  no  rays  of  light  are  reflected  from  it,  they 
alt  impinge  upon  it  with  their  inconceivable  velocity,  develop- 
vJ  their  friction  with  the  earth  an  opposite  electricity  to 
their  own  and  that  of  the  atmosphere,  whose  union  produces 

111  winter,  though  the  earth  is  three 
millions  of  miles  nearer  the  sun  than  it  is  in  summer,  yet  the 
angle  of  incidence  of  the  sun’s  rays  of  light  is  so  small  and- 
acute,  that  a large  proportion  of  theiri  are  reflected  into  space 
without  producing  the  friction  with  the  earth  which  is  neces- 


174 


sary  to  evolve  an  opposite  electricity  and  lieat  consequent 
upon  the  union  of  the  two  electricities;  hence  the  temperature 
of  the  winters  in  such  parts  of  the  earth’s  surface  is  low,  and 
cold  prevails.  The  intermediate  seasoris  make  an  average 
between  the  extremes  of  summer  and  winter,  from  the  cor- 
responding angles  of  incidence  of  their  light. 

One  of  the  most  beautiful  illustrations  of  the  remarkable 
power  developed  by  the  compressibility  of  light  is  furnished 
in  the  celebrated  exploits  of  Archimoctes,  the  Syracusan,  the 
most  learned  of  the  mathematicians  of  antiquity,  in  destroying 
by  means  of  reflecting  mirrors. the  fleet  of  the  Komans,  who, 
investing  the  city  of  Syracuse  by  land,  Avere  blockading  its 
port  with  a numerous  fleet,  which  was  preparing  to  batter  the 
sea  Avails  of  the  city  Avith  battering  rams  and  catapults. 
Archimedes  conceiAmd  the  idea  of  destroying  this  fleet,  Avhich 
Avas  unapproachable  by  any  adequatic  force  under  the  control 
of  the  Syracusans,  by  concentrating  upon  it  the  light  of  the 
sun,  reflected  - from  mirrors  into  foci,  successively  thrown 
upon  the  several  ships  of  the  fleet,  at  the  distance  of  an 
arrow’s  flight  from  the  shore,  or  from  150  to  200  feet. 

The  two  ancient  authors  who  have  furnished  the  clearest 
account  of  this  extraordiuai'y  feat  in  warfare,  arc  Zonaras  and 
Tzetzes,  aaAio  each  lived  in  the  twelfth  century  of  the  Christian 
era.  The  passage  indho  history  of  Zonaras  does  not  enlighten 
us  in  regard  to  the  construction  of  the  mirrors  used  by 
Archimedes,  it  simply  states  the  fact,  and  in  another  passage 
the  same  author  says,  that  under  the  empire  of  Anastasius,  in 
the  year  514,  A.  D.,  Proclus  with  burning  mirrors  burnt  and 
destro}’ed  the  fleet  of  Vitalien,  AA’ho  Avas  besieging  Constanti- 
nople, and  he  added,  their  invention  was  ancient,  and  that  Dion 
ga\Te  the  honour  of  it  to  Archimedes,  avIio  had  used  it  success- 
fully against  the  Eomans  at  the  siege  of  Syracuse. 

The  historian  Tzetzes,  enters  more  fully  into  the  description 
of  the  mirrors  used  by  Archimedes,  which  he  said  Avere  com- 
posed of  a central  hexagonal  mirror,  surrounded  by  others  ot 
a smaller  size,  which  by  the  aid  of  hinges  and  metallic  plates, 
could  he  so  exposed  to  the  sun,  that  its  raj’S  of  light  falling 
upon  them  wmuld  be  reflected  and  then  concentrated  into  a 
common  focus,  developing  so  great  a heat  that  the  ships  of 
the  Komans  were  burnt  by  it,  even  at  the  distance  of  an 
arrow’s  flight. 

Among  the  moderns,  Kircher  has  written  that  Archimedes 
had  been  able  to  burn,  at  a great  distance,  AAuth  plane  mirrors, 


experience  liaving  taught  him  that  in  assemhlino-  in  this 
manner  the  imag-es  of  the  sun,  a heat  could  be  produced  at  a 

Glut  Where  these  images  were  united. 

_ Mr.  Du  Fay,  a member  of  tbe  Eoyal  Academy  of  Sciences, 
m a memoir  printed  in  1716,  stated  that  the  image  of  the  sun, 
reflected  by  a plans  mirror  more  than  600  feeCupou  a con- 
cave mirror  with  a diameter  of  17  inches,  burned  inflamma- 
ble substances  at  the  focus  of  this  concave  mirror.  lie  more- 
over added  that  some  authors  had  suggested  that  a'  mirror, 
with  a very  long  focus,  could  be  formed  by  using  a larcte' 
number  of  small  plane  mirrors,  which  might  be  held  in  the 
hands  ot  as  many  persons,  and  so  directed  by  them  as  to 
throw,  by  reflection,  all  the  images  of  the  sun  upon  a given 
point,  thus  developing  great  heat;  but  at  the  same  time  be 
treated  the  story  of  Archimedes  burning  the  Roman  fleet  at 
byracuse  as  the  veriest  fable,  and  worthy  of  all  ridicule. 

It  is  very  singular  that  men  will  frequently  believe  state- 
ments or  the  most  improbable  and  even  impossible  character  ' 
trho,  atthe  same  time,  will  reject  the  best  established  historical 
tacts  when  they  happen  to  be  outside  their 'circle  of  know- 
ledge. Such  has  been  the  fate  of  the  history  of  the  bnrnim>- 
mirrors  tvith  which  Archimedes  destroyed  the  Roman  fleet  at 
bvracuso.  Tins  fact,  related  by  many  historians,  believed, 
without  question,  during  fifteen  or  sixteen  centuries,  was,  iii 
the  seventeenth  century,  not  only  disputed,  but  was  treated 
as  a silly  fable  by  many  of  the  savans  of  that  period.  Even 
tae  illustrious  Des  Cartes  openly  denied  its  possibility  and 
we  must  acknowledge  that  with  the  then  received  opinions  on 
iJioptrics  Des  Cartes  was  excusable  for  not  believing  the 
mirrors  of  Archimedes  ever  to  have  existed. 


This  incredulity,  on  the  part  of  many  persons  claimin'^-  to 
be  scientists,  excited  the  interest  of  M.  de.  Buflbn,  the  cele- 
brated naturaast,  at  the  time  the  Intendant  of  the  Jardin  des 
1 iantes,  at  Paris.  He  determined  to  test  the  question  practi- 
cally, and  for  this  purpose  constructed  a system  of  reflect! n a- 
plane  mirrors,  by  wEich  he  attained  complete  euccessi  He 
be^an^  by  measuring  the  loss  of  illuminating  power  in  the 
reflection  of  the  sun’s  rays  from  metallic  mirrors  of  the  finest 
polish,  w’hen  compared  \vith  the  loss  so  sustained  by  reflec- 
tion trom  plane  glass  mirrors  covered  on  their  backs  with  tin' 
found  that  the  glass  mirrors  lost  less  light  bv 
reflection  than  the  metallic  mirrors  did,  hut  that  it  required 
two  plane  glass  mirrors  of  the  same  dimensions  to  produce,; 


176 


at  a givoa  distance,  an,  illumination  equal  to  that  from  the 
samelinobstructed  beam  of  sunlight  passing  into  an  obscure 
roor.i  through  an  aperture  in  the  window  shutter,  and  conse- 
quently, that  the  number  of  his_ glass  mirrors  should  be  largely 
increase^)  to  produce  any  sensible  effect  on  combustible  sub- 
stances. After  studying  his  subject  iu  its.various  relations  to 
the  laws  of  light  and  heat,  as  thou  understood  by  scientific 
men,  M;  de  Buffon  constructed  Ids  mirror  of  168  pieces^  of 
plane  glass,  covered  on  the  back  with  tin  foil,  each  piece-being 
■six  inches  wide  by  eight  inches  long,  separated,  from  each 
other  by  four  Hues,  and  mounted  on  a stand,  which  was  sus- 
ceptible of  being  moved  in  every  direction;,  each  of  these 
glasses  had  a separate  setting,  so  that  it  could  be  separately 
•moved  in  every  direction,  independent  of  the  movemouts  of 
the  other  glasses.  It  required  about  half  an  hour  to  adjust 
the  reflected  images  of  thesuu  froru  these  mirrors  into  a com- 
mon focus.  When  the  glasses  were  properly  arranged,  and 
the  focus  adjusted,  a board  of  beech  wood  covered  with  pitch, 
was  set  on  fire  by  40  of  these  glasses  at  the  distance  ot  66  teet, 
with  98  glasses,  a board  covered  with  pitch  and  sulphur  was 
set  on  fire  at  the  distance  of  120  feet.  A slight  combustion  was 
produced  on  a hoard  covered  with  wool  cut  very  fine,  by 
employing  112  glasses,  at  the  distance  of  138  feet,  with  a very 
pale  sun.  At  150  feet  of  distance,  a board  covered  with  pitch 
was  made  to  smoke  with  154  glasses,  and  it  was  thought  that 
it  would  have  been  burnt  if  the  sun  had  not  become  overcast 
with  clouds.  With  a still  feebler  sun,  chips  of  pine  wood 
covered  with  pitch  have  been  set  on  fire  in  one  minute  and  a 
half,  at  the  same  distance,  with  a like  number  of  glasses. 
With- an  unclouded  sun,  a pine  board,  covered  with  pitch,  at 
the  same  distance,  has  been  quickly  set  on  fire  ^'"dh  128 
glasses,  and  the  fire  has  caught  the  whole  surface  of  the  focus, 
V hich  was  16  inches  in  diameter,  at  that  distance.  Finally, 
the  focus  having  been  shortened  to  the  distance  of  20  feet, 
with  12  glasses'  the  substances  easily  combustible  were  set 
on  fire.  With  45  glasses  a tin  canister,  weighing  ^six  pounds, 
has  been  quickly  melted  with  117  glasses.  Thin  scraps  of 
silver  have  been  melted,  and  a sheet  of  iron  has  been  made 
red  hot ; and  there  was  reason  to  believe  that  if  all  the  glasses 
of  the  mirror  had  been  used,  metals  could  have  been  as  easily 
melted  at  50  feet  distance  as  at  20  feet. 

These  experiments  have  been  .made  with  a sun  of  a spring 
time,  and  without  much  power,  having  been  enfeebled  by 
atmospheric  vapours,  If  then,  with  these  disadvantages,  wood 


177 


could  be  burnt  at  150  feet  distant,  we  may  wfell  tliink,  that: 
with  a summer’s  sun,  it  could  be  readily  burnt  at  200  feet 
distance,  and  with  three  similar  miVrors  it  could  be  set  on 
fire  at  400  feet  distance.  M.  de  BufFon  thought  that  with 
mirrors  similar  to  his  own,  combustibles- could  not  be  inflamed 
beyoiid  a distance  of  900  feet. 

Let  us  attempt  an  explanation  of  these  phenomena.  The 
enormous  veioeity  of  rays  of  light  in  coming  to  our  planet, 
establishes  the'flict  that  they  cannot  touch  each  other  in  their 
passage,  since  if  they  jostled  each  other  their  velocity  would 
be  greatly  diminished.  Repelled  from  each  other,  therefore, 
by  their  own  negative  electricity,  as  well  as  by  that  they  have 
received  from  the  cold  ether  through  which  they  have  passed, 
they  are  attracted  to  the  glass  of  tlie  mirrors  and  their  metal- 
lic backing,  by-the  vitreous  or  positive  electricity  of  those  sub- 
stances. "On  striking  the  glass,  these  rays  pi’oduce  friction, 
which  evolves  positive  electricity,  the  junction  of  these  oppo- 
site electricities  evolves  heat  and  magnetism,  the  rays  of  heat 
thuS'  developed  follow  the  same  laws  as  do  those  of  light,  and 
iogether,  both  are  reflected  from  the  mirrors  and  are  directed 
to  the  ecmmon  focus,  where  their  co’uceutration  sets  oh  fire 
combns'dJhe  substances,  and  melts  and  vaporizes  those  of  a 
more  obdarate  asid  intractable  character.  The  refraction  and. 
rcflectioic  as  v','cll  as  the  polarization  of  light,  are  due  to  the 
repellent  aiflaity  of  electricity. 

When  we  are  told  that  on  many  parts  of  the  earth’s  surface 
mountains  have  been  upheaved  till  their  peaks  and  ridges,  at 
distances  varying  from  16,000  to  28,000  feet  above  the  level  of 
the  sea,  appear  to  be  covered  with  snow,  which  from  year  to 
3'ear,  and  from  century  to  century,  continues  to  cover  them, 
no  matter  in  what  latitudes  they  may  exist,  nor  in  wliat  sea- 
son of  the  year  they  may  be  examined,  we  naturally  ask  our- 
selves, wiry  is  this?  How  does  it  happen,  that  these  snow- 
capped peaks  and  ridges,  at  such  great  elevations  above  the 
sea,  far  above  the  region  of  the  atmosphere  in  which  clouds 
aud  vapours  habitually  love  to  roam  as  it  were  at  will,  bask- 
ing in  a resplendent  and  brilliant  sunlight,  receiving  all  tiro 
supposed  emanations  of  heat  from  tiro  sun,  that  philosophers 
of  every  age  Jiave  innocently  conjectured  that  that  luminary, 
like  a Imman  spendthrift,  was  lavishing  upon  infinite  space, 
in  all  directions,  that  a small  portion  of  it  might  reach  our 
pljauet,  should  preserve  their  mantles  of  perpetual  snow,  in  all 
sea^rus,  .iu  all  climatic  changes  that  are  -occurring  every 


moment  thousands  of  fpet  beneath  them,  and  thus  continue 
defying,  as  it  would  seem,  the  mutability  of  all  other  earthly 
things  ? Some  of  our  philosophers  of  the  highest  distinction, 
have  gone  into  the  most  elaborate  calculations  to  show  what 
enormous  columns  of  ice,  of  the  greatest  density,  could  be 
melted  by  the  heat  of  the  sun,  in  its  constant  emanation,  in 
the  smallest  spaces  of  time,  in  the  face  of  the  fact  that  the 
enow  clad  mountains,  that  happen  to  be  the  nearest  to  the 
6un,  have  been  from  time  immemorial,  unaffected  in  thd 
slightest  manner,  by  any  heat  derived  from  that  great  lumi- 
nary. Let  us  attempt  an  explanation  of  tiiis  wonder.  The 
colour  of  snow  is  white.  It  has  a low  temperature.  Its  elec- 
trical condition  is  negative,  as  is  the  white  colour  of  sunlight, 
as  arc  the  rays  of  sunlight  which  reach  us  through  the  nega- 
tively electrified  ether  of  space,  also  intensely  cold,  and  the 
intensely  cold  upper  strata  of  our  atmosphere.  As  a conse- 
quence, white  sunlight,  negatively  electrified,  falling  upon  the 
white  snow  capped  mountains,  also  negatively  electrified,  as 
are  also  the  strata  of  our  atmosphere  into  which  these  moun- 
tains lift  their  heads,  these  similar  electricities  repel  each 
other.  The  white  sunlight  is  reflected  into  space  from  the 
snow  covered  mountains,  which  remain  undisturbed,  and  no 
trace  of  the  action  of  heat,  as  derived  from  the  sun,  is  any- 
where visible  upon  them. 

If  the  sun  is  a great  magnet,  it  must  have  its  magnetic  poles, 
with  their  reciprocal  attractions  and  repulsions.  The  plane  of 
the  sun’s  equator  is  said  to  be  neither  perpendicular  to  nor 
coincident  with  that  of  the  ecliptic.  Its  magnetic  poles  may 
therefore  be  differently  situated  in  it  to  the  positions  occupied 
in  the  earth  by  its  magnetic  poles.  From  the  supposed  enor- 
mous volume  and  intensity  of  magnetism  in  and  about  the  sun, 
we  may  infer  that  the  velocity  of  the  planets  and  of  cometary 
matter  in  their  respective  progress  in  their  orbits,  would  bo 
checked  when  in  their  several  perigees  or  nearest  points  to 
the  sun,  from  its  great  magnetic  attraction,  and  that  as  they 
severally  I'eccclod  therefrom,  those  velocities  would  be  in- 
creased from  the  loss  of  the  sun’s  attraction  by  increase  of 
distance  from  it,  and  the  nearer  approach  to  their  apogees,  or 
greatest  distance  from  the  sun,  where  the  sun’s  attraction 
would  be  the  least,  and  the  opposite  magnetic  attraction  of 
the  ether  of  space  would  be  the  greatest.  If  it  were  not  for 
the  interior  forces  of  the  planets,  &c.,  causing  their  rotations, 
on  their  axes,  we  might  suppose  that  their  movements  around 
the  sun  might  be  stopped  entirely,  when  they  had  severally 
reached  their  perigees  by  the  magnetism  of  the  sun. 


179 


Wlieiitvro  magnets  of  different  magnetic  volumes  and  in- 
tensities are  brought  near  each  other  with  similar  poh'S 
towards  each  other,  the  greater  magnet  will  repel  the  lesser 
if  their  opposite  poles  approach  each  other,  the  feebler  will  be 
attracted  by  the  stronger.  Now  the  sun  having  much  greater 
magnetic  power  than  the  earth,  when  the  latter  is  at  its  peri- 
gee its  velocity  must  be  retarded  by  the  greater  attractive 
magnetism  of  the  sun,  which  would  hold  it  fixed  when  in  peri- 
'gee,  but  for  the  rotation  of  the  earth  on  its  axis,  driving  it’ 
forward,  and  that,  retardation  or  holding  it  back  after  it  had 
passed  its  perigee  would  continue  until  the  earth  had  receded 
so  far  from  its  perigee  as  to  have  reached  the  attraction  of  the 
opposite  magnetism  beyond  its  apogee. 

. The  sun  exhibits  every  characteristic  and  evidence  of  a bodv 
enveloped  in  two  atmospheres,  so  to  state,  the  one  in  contact 
with  it  being  the  region  of  white  light,  called  the  'photosphere, 
and  outside  of  that,  a region  in  which  coloured  light  is  some- 
times manifested,  especially  along' the  edges  of  the  solar  disc, 
and  which  last  region  is  called  the  chromosphere.  The.  spots 
on  the  sun  are  supposed  to  be  holes  of  various  forms  and 
dimensions  in  the  region  of  white  light,  through  which  the 
dark  body  of  the  sun  itself  has  been  seen.  These  spots  or 
holes  are  liable  to  variations,  and  are  analogous  to  the  spots 
of  sunlight  on  the  surface  of  the  earth,  which  are  sometimes 
seen  to  be  surrounded  by  the  shadows  cast  upon  the  earth 
by  the  clouds  above  it.  Nasmyth,  in  the  year  1866,  made  the 
aiscovery  that  the  luminous  portion  of  the  sun’s  disc  is  not 
composed  of  light  of  equal  or  homogeneous  intensity,  but 
consists  of  a minutely  divided  series  of  luminous  streaks, 
which  he  described  as  like  willow  leaves,  around  which  the 
light  is  less  intense,  or  rather  the  photosphere  is  more  trans- 
parent. These  willow  leaves  appeared  to  cross  each  other  in 
all  varieties  of  directions,  and  their  average  magnitude  w’as 
about  one  thousand  miles  long,  by  a hundred  miles  broad ; 
other  observers  have  preferred  to  describe  these  appearances 
as  “granulations,”  “rice  grains,”  and  “shingle  beach,”  and 
as  having  elliptical  forms,  and  of  much  smaller  proportions. 

The  moon,  we  know  to  be  a reflector,  of  light  without  the 
emission  of  any  accompanying  heat.  The  picture  of  the  face 
of  the  moon  exhibited  to  us,  represents  great  irregularities  in 
its  surface,  depressions,  as  if  they  were  craters  of  extinct  vol- 
canoes, and  elevations  of  great  altitude,  conveying  the  idea  of 
volcanic  mountains;  but  the  general  colour  is  that  of  a litrht 


• > i ' 


180 

grey,  not  unlike  to  sheets  of  zinc,  or  tin  foil,'  the  latter  of 
which  we  use  as  hacks  or  reflecting  surfaces  in  our  glass 
mirrors. 

If  we  thus  get  our  nocturnal  light  from  the.  moon,  unac- 
companied hy  heat,  why  should  we  insist  upon  violating  the 
well  established  laws  of  heat  in  its  radiations,  and  declare  the 
sun  to  be  an  incandescent  body,  continually  in  active  com- 
bustion, requiring  inconceivable  masses  of  fuel  of  sOme  kind’ 
to  maintain  it,  and  surrounded  on  all  sides  by  an  immensity 
of  ethereal  space  of  so  low  a temperature  that  any  radiation 
of  heat  from  the  sun  must  necessarily  be  absorbed  and  neu- 
tralized as  soon  as  it  should  leave  the  body  of  the  sun  ? We 
therefore,  for  the  reasons  stated  in  this  book,  reject  entirely 
the  theory  of  the  incandescence  of  the  sun,  and  of  its  lumi- 
nous metallic  vapours  of  great  intensity  of  heat. 

We  have  shown  in  the  body  of  this  work,  that  the- colored 
lights  constituting  the  primary  rays  of  light,  which  are 
emitted  from  the  various  orbs  of  the  firmament,  negatively 
electrified,  and  arc  propelled  by  the  cold  negatively  electrified 
ether  through  which  they  are  continually  passing  to  the 
sun,  and  through  its  transparent  or  translucent  chromosphere 
to  the  photosphere  of  the  sun,  are  there  commingled  to 
prodfice  its  white  light,  which  then  is  repelled  or  reflected 
from  the  grey  “ willow  leaves,”  “granulations,”  “ rice  grains,” 
•or  whatever  they  may  be,  into  ethereal  space  by  the  same 
negative  electricity,  which  has  been,  associated  with  them 
throughout,  . a portion  of  which  comes  to  us  as  the  white  light 
of  the  sun. 

This  shows  the  synthesis  or  formation  of  the  white  light  of 
the  sun,  and  that  it  is  merely  an  associa'tion  of  the  primary 
rays  of  light  thrown  together  by  electrical  and  magnetic 
attra'Ctions  and  repulsions  in  the  photosphere  of  the  sun,  and 
so  easily  separable  that  the  slightest  change  in  the  angle  qf 
incidence  of  the  white  light  of  the  sun,  as  it  falls  upon  vapours, 
clouds,  or  gases  will  excite  their  repellent  affinities,  and  resolve 
them  into  the  varied  and  brilliant  tints  of  primary  and  com- 
posite colours,  which  everywhere  in  the  temperate  regions, 
serve  to  excite  our  astonishment,  wonder,  and  delight.  These 
changes  need  no  accompaniment  of  heat,  and  as  they  are 
without  it,  we  return  to  the  declaration  of  Moses,  that  “ God 
made  two  great  lights,  a greater  light  to  rule  the  day,  and  a . 
lesser  light  to  rule  the  night  and  the  stars. 


181 


“ And  L.e  set  them  in  the  firmament  of  heaven  to  shine  upon 
the  earth,  and  to  rule  the  day  and  the  night,  and  to  divide  the 
light  and  the  darkness ; and  God  sa-w- that  it  was  good.-’ 

Among  the  fallacies  of  science,  as  taught  in  our  schools,  to 
some  of  which  I have  alluded  in  this  book,  there  is  not  one 
more  surprising  than  the  statement  made  by  our  astronomers,, 
that  the  earth,  the  planets,  and  the  sun  itself  continually 
'revolve  on  their  respective  axes,  and  in  their  orbits  from  west 
to  east.  We  are  also  told  that  these  orbits  are  elliptical 
curves  which  return  into  themselves.  . Ifow  we  will  illustrate 
this  movement  by  supposing  that  a man  has  started  from  San 
Francisco,  on  the  Pacific  Ocean,  to  travel  on  the  same  parallel 
of  latitude  from  west  to  east  around  the  world.  After  he  has 
travelled  one  hundred  and  eighty  degrees  on  this  parallel  of 
latitude,  he  finds  that  he  has  reached  the  east  cardinal  point 
from  San  Francisco,  and  if  he  should  continue  his  journey,  he 
must  travel  westward,  which  course  will  bring  him  in  time  back 
again  to  San  Francisco.  How  is  it  possible,  therefore,  in  a 
curve  which  returns  to  itself  to  travel  always  in  the  same 
direction  ?.  There  can  be  no  fixed  cardinal  points  in  any  solar 
or  stellar  system  which  is  always  in  motion.  In  regard  to 
the  diminutive  planet  which  we  inhabit,  the  curvature  or 
annulus  of  magnetic  poles,  north  and  south,  is.  sufficiently 
stable  and  fixed  to  furnish  cardinal  points  of  the  compass,  to 
regulate  our  journeyings  upon  it;  but  with  planets,  stars,  and 
suns,  it  is  different.  They  have  no  fixed  points  in  the  celes- 
tial sphere,  of  which  we  have  or  can  have  any  knowledge,  to 
which  ti!e  direction  of  their  movements  can.'be  referrech 
it  is  simply  an  absurdity  to  attempt  to  assimilate  planetary 
and  stellar  motions  to  those  of  mankind  on  our  earth. 

The  planes  of  the  orbits  of  the  planets  are  neither  coincident 
with,  parallel,  nor  perpendicular  to  each  other,  but  they  are 
supposed  to  intersect  each  other  in  such  a manner  that  the 
sun  shall  always  be  in  a focus,  common  to  all  of  these  ellipti- 
cal orbits;  consequently  any  perpendicular  line  or  plane  to 
any  one  of  those  orbits,  cannot  be  perpendicular  to  any  other 
of  them;  and  hence,  there  can  be  no  cardinal  points  common 
to  them  all,  and  their  motions  cannot  be  from  west  to  east. 

My  task  is  finished.  When,  in  the  beginning  of  this  cen- 
tury, It  was  announced  that  the  primary  rays  of  light  had  dif- 
ferent attributes,  and  among  them,  that  the  blue  ray  stimulated 
vegetation  in  a remarkable  degree,  many  persons  on  the  con- 


182 


tlncnt  of  Europe,  as  well  as  in  the  British  Isles,  instituted 
experiments,  with  a view  to  utilize  these  rays.  Their  experi- 
rnenls  were  failures,  as-  they  were  made  with  homogeneous 
tinted  glass,  each  of  the  primary  rays  having  in  this  w;ay  been 
somewhere  tested,  but  without'  satisfactory  results.  A know-, 
ledge  of  these  failures  induced  me  to  examine  the  subject  of 
ve^table  growth  in  its  natural  conditions.  I soon  discovered 
that  where  vegetation  was  most  luxuriant,  and- exuberant, 
there  the  brilliant  sunlight  was  always  associated  with  the  blue 
light  of  the  firmament.  That  during  the  torpor  of  winter,  the 
rays  of  sunlight  fell  upon  the  earth,  owing  to  the  declination 
of  the  sun,  at  such  acute  angles  of  incidjpnce,^  that  many  of 
■ them  were  reflected  into  space  without  stimulating  life  on  this 
planet,  while,  at  the  same  ti.me,  the  blue  .colour  of  the  sky  was 
intercepted. from  our  vision  by  the  watery  vapours  and  clouds 
that  were  constantly  floa  ,\ng.  in  the  atmosphere.  The  absence, 
therefore,  of  the  blue  colour  of  the  sky,  and  many  of  tlie  rays 
of  sunlight  at  this  season,  together  with  its  low  temperature, 
convinced  me  that  the  Creator  intended  it  to  be  a season  of 
rest  for  vegetable  and  animal  life,  a sort  of  Sabbath,  in  which 
life,  though  existing  in  plants  and  animals,  was  reposing  from 
its  activity,  to  be  aroused  into  exercise  on  the  return  of  the 
season  of  spring,'  when  from  the  less  declination  of  the  sun, 
mor^  of  its  light  would  he  thrown  upon  the  earth,  associated 
with  the  blue  colour  of  the  sky,  then  unmasked  by  the  dis- 
sipation of  the  clouds  and  watery  vapours  which  had  con- 
cealed it  during  the  winter  just. past.  I said  to  myself,  “ here 
is  the  secret  of  the  failures  of  these  European  experiments 
with  the  primary  rays  of  light.  I will  follow  the  guidance  of 
the  Creator  in  cultivating  iny  vines.  . I will  associate  the  sun- 
light with  the  blue  colour  of  the  sky,  intensifying  the  latter. 
I will  make  a tropical  clirnate  and  atmosphere  in  the  temper- 
ate zone,”  The  results  are...  before  you.  The  reflections  I 
have  made  on  this  subject  have  induced  my  investigation  into 
the  Physics  of  Nature.  I have  not  been  satisfied  with  what  I 
-have  been  taught  iu  the  schools.  Their  explanations  are  not 
consistent  with  the  known  or  presumed  facts.  I have  ven- 
tured, therefore,  to  form  nay  own  conclusions,  irrespectivemf 
dogmas  that  have  been  thrust  upon  mankind  for  centuries. 
I do  not  profess  to  teach  any  one,  but  as  a human  atona 
among  the  masses  of  mankind,  for  whom  all  knowledge  should 
he  disseminated,  I venture  to  impart  to  the  public  the  conclu- 
sions to  which  I have  arrived  on  these  subjects,  and  that  pub- 
jlc  may  attach  to  them  whatever  value  they  please. 


APPENDIX  TO  PAET  IL 


P-] 

A very  remarkabl.e  confirmation  of  my  theory  of  the  forma- 
tion of  the- equatorial  diameter  of  the  earth,  as  well  as  of  those 
of  the  other  planets,  by  magnetic  attraction  and  repulsion  from 
their  respective  poles,  thus  increasing  those  diameters  in 
various  proportions  over  their  several  polar  diameters,  has 
unexpectedly  appeared  in  a paper  read  before  the  American 
Academy  of  Sciences,  at  their  meeting  in  this  city  held  on 
Thursday  last,  November  4th,  1875,  and  sent  to  it  by  Professor 
Joseph  Le  Conte,  of  the  University  of  California,  a synopsis 
of  which  was  published  in  the  supplement  to  the  Public  Ledger^ 
of  this  city,  on  Saturday,  November  6th,  1875.  The  paper  was. 
entitled  “ On  the  Evidence  of  Horizontal  Crushing  iir  the 
Formation  of  the  Coast  Range  of  Mountains  in  California,” 
being  the  result  of  recent  observations  by  the  author.  Tiis 
theory  is,  that  mountains  are  formed  wholly  by  a yielding  of 
the  crust  of  the  earth  along’  certain  lines  to  horizontal  pres- 
sure, not  by  bending  into  a convex  arch  filled  and  sustained 
by  a liquid  beneath,  but  by  a mashing  together  of  the  whole 
crust  Avith  the  formation  of  close  folds  and  a thickening  or 
SAvelling  upwavd  of  the  squeezed  mass.  The  author  walked 
sIoAvly  through  the-cut  made  by  the  Central  Pacific  Railroad, 
from  the  plains  adjoining  the  bay  of  San  Francisco  through 
the  Coast  Ridge  mountains  to  the  San  Joaquin  plains,  a dis- 
tance of  thirty  miles.  Both  the  sub-ranges  into  which  the 
range  is  divided  are  composed  wholly  of  crumpled  strata, 
those  of  the  Avestern  sub-range  being  crumpled  in  the  most 
extraordinary  tnanner.  The  sub-rswige  nearest  the  bay  is  ex- 
ceedingly complex.  From  measurements  of  the  aiigles  of  dip 
the  actual  length  of  the  folded  strata  is  two  and  one-half 
•to  three  times  the  horizontal  distance  through  the  mountain. 
There  must  have  been  fifteen  to  eighteen  miles  of  original  sea 
bottom  crushed  into  six  miles,  with  a correspon4ing  upswell- 
ing  of  the  whole  mass. 

183) 


184  • 


To  anticipate  inquiry  and  satisfy  curiosity  respecting  the 
history  of  the  author  of  the  experiments  mentioned  herein, 
and  of  the  hook  itself,  his  civil  and  military  history  is  as  fol- 
lows, viz  : 

ATJGUSTIJS  JAMES  PLEASOFTOEr,  horn  in  the  city  of 
JVashington,  in  the  District  of  Columbia,  January  21st,  A.  D. 
1808.  He  was  the  second  son  of  Stephen  Pleaspnton,  of  the 
state  of  Delaware,  and  Mary  Hopkins,  his  wife,  of  the  county 
of  Lancaster,  state  of  Pennsylvania.  His  father,  Stephen 
Pleasonton,  entered  the  service  of  the  government  of  the 
United  States,  in  the  State  Department,  in  the  year  1800,  and 
continued  to  serve  it  till  his.  death,  which  occured  in  the  year 
1854,  after  a service  of  more  than  fifty  years.  He  was  Eifth 
Auditor  of  the  Treasury  Department,  Acting  Commissioner 
of  the  Kevenue  of  the  United  States,  and  Chief  of  the  Light 
House  Department,  for  many  years.  He  was  of  Forman  ex- 
traction. 

Eis  wife  was  the  third  . daughter  of  John  Hopkins,  a sub- 
stantial fanner  of  the  county  of  Lancester,.  in  the  state  of 
Pennsylvania,  who  for  very  many  years  represented  his  county 
in  the  Senate  of  Pennsylvania.  Her  ancestry  was  English. 
Their  son,  Augustus,  was  appointed  a Cadet  of  the  United 
States  Military  Academy  at  West  Point,  from  the  District  of 
Columbia,  July  1st,  A.  D.  1822,  continued  as  such  till  July  1st, 
1826,  when  he  was  graduated  and  promoted  in  the  army,  to 
Brevet  Second  Lieutenant  of  the  Sixth  Eegment  of  Infantry 
July  1st,  1826,  Second  Lieutenant  Third  Artillery  June  1st, 
1826.  Transferred  to  First  Artillery  October  24th,  1826. 

Augustus  James  Pleasonton,  served  in  garrison  at  Fortress 
Monroe.  Virginia;' at  the  Artillery  School  of  Practice  in  the 
years  lo26  and  1827,  and  on  Topographical  duty,  from  June 
16th,  1827,  till  January  Hth,  1828,  and  from  June  14th,  1828 
till  June  30th,  1830.  Resigned  his  commission  in  the  army 
June  30th,  1830. 

Hrs  CiviSi.. History. — Counsellor  at  Law  at  Philadelphia, 
Penn.,  since  the  year  1832.  Brigade  Major  in  Pennsylvania 
Volunteer  Militia  in  the  years  1883  and  1835,  Colonel  of 
Volunteer  Artillery,  of  Penn.,  from  1835  till  1845,  being 
severely  wounded  July  7th,  1844,  with  a musket  ball  in  the 
left  groin,  while  commanding  his  regiment  in  a desperate  con- 


185 


liict,  with  a Ibrmidahle  body  of  rioters,  armed  with  muskets 
and  cannon,  in  Southwark,  Philadelphia  county,  Penn,  As- 
sistant Adjutant  General  and  Paymaster  General  of  the  state 
of  Pennsylvania  from  December  11th,  1838  to  October  G 1th, 
1839,  during  political  disturbances  at  Harrisburg,  Penn.’ 
President  of  the-  Harrisburg,  Portsmouth,  Mountjoj  and 
Lancaster  Railroad  Company,  of  Pennsylvania,  in  the  ve-vs 
1839  and  1840.  ' 

His  Military  History.— Served  during  the  Rebellion  of 
the  seceding  states-  froin.  the  year  1861  till  1866  as  Brigadier 
General  of  Pennaylvanir  Yolunteer  Militia.  Appointed  May 
16th,  18.61,  under  an  act  of  the  Legislature  of  the  state’ ot 
Pennsylvania,  to  organize-  and  command  -a  Yolunteer  Army 
Corps  of  10,000  men  of  Artillery,  Infantry -and  Cavalry,  as  a 
Home  Guard  for  the  defence  of  the  city  of  Philadelphia, 
Penn. 


IT 


